The LupeGelert Stone: Part One

By kirinki

The Beginning

Moonlight rose and slipped quietly out of bed. She trotted out of her cave and into the bright sunlight. The birds were singing and already the sun reflected onto her white coat. RedFlame, the Fire Lupe, was there under the Lupe statue waiting for her.

"We must go now. Nicodemus is waiting for us," RedFlame whispered.

The two took off at a run towards the cave where Nicodemus stayed. They crept in, careful not to knock over one of Nicodemus' many potions lined up on the wall.

"So, you have come. I have a quest for you. It will be very hard and dangerous, but your reward will be great."

Nicodemus stepped out from one of the chambers. He was an old red Lupe who was very intelligent.

"You must retrieve the sacred LupeGelert stone from the evil Dark Lupe. Without this stone, our region will soon crumble, wiped out from the face of Neopia. Your friend Mystic the blue Gelert will join you on your Quest."

The old Lupe paused and retreated to another chamber to find a couple of backpacks for the three friends (Mystic had just arrived). Nicodemus gave them their packs. Each pack had a good supply of food, a book that will help them on their journey, a jar of fire that Nicodemus had enchanted so it would not go out, a map, a bottle of water, five potions to heal them if they got attacked and 2,000 Neopoints.

"I have enchanted the bags so that they would not be heavy on your backs and that they would carry anything. Oh, and here are 36 faeries in jars, 6 of each. Take six, two of each, and put them in your pack. When most needed, they will bless you with abilities for battle." Nicodemus handed them the faeries. " Farewell, my good friends, I wish you good luck."

The three said their good-byes and set off on their journey. Riding in Mystic's pack was her Puppyblew named Encarta. Moonlight kept Spot, a Warf who clung onto her back, sometimes jumping into her pack to take a nap. In RedFlame's pack, another Warf called Ruff poked its head out to look at the wilderness. The trio trekked through the forest without any trouble.

Finally they reached the district of Salamandstron inhabited by Evil Techos of all colour, size or shape. A guard, dressed in a dusty tunic and armour, stopped them.

"Be gone!" he growled. "You know this land is forbidden to Lupes and Gelerts for unknown reasons."

"Keep your distance, Techo. We will go through this land, whether you like it or not," RedFlame snarled back.

The Techo, whose name was Sonmount, drew his sword, but RedFlame was fast. He leaped onto Sonmount and knocked him flat on the back. Sonmount slithered out of RedFlame's grasp and swung his blade. RedFlame gripped the sword in his teeth and tossed it to Moonlight. She grabbed it and put it in her pack. Sonmount retreated, his red eyes burning with hatred. Mystic was explaining to Encarta and the two Warfs that not all Techos were bad.

"Quickly, we must run. That Sonmount is probably sounding the alarm."

Mystic lifted their pets onto her back and ran across the dry plain. The others followed, Moonlight keeping the sharp sword in her grasp.

To be continued...