Lupeia the Lupe: Part One

by bunnygirl156

Life and Silence

It was a cold and miserable night in Neopia, a harsh wind screamed loudly as it blew fiercely across the dark field. On the side of the deserted road hid a small family of Lupes, taking shelter under the long grass. Avlika, a female blue Lupe, looked down happily at the newborn baby Lupe sleeping quietly beside her.

"She's so beautiful," Avlika whispered to her husband Idelik, stroking her baby's soft yellow fur. "But how will we ever take care of her? How will we find the money to feed her?"

Idelik smiled back at Avlika. "We can manage, I'm sure. But don't worry yourself about it. Now then, what shall we name her?"

"I've already decided. We'll call her Lupeia."

"I like it. It suits her perfectly. You always did have that gift of naming in you, Avlika."

The two Lupes smiled once again at each other, then lay down and fell asleep. And beside them slept the child named Lupeia, whose future would be more exciting than any one could guess.

***

I woke up to find myself in the middle of a grassy field, with the sun shining brightly above me. I saw my parents, Avlika and Idelik, still sleeping beside me. I crept away quietly, tracing a note in the dirt telling them where I had gone.

I quickly ran across the dirt road, remembering my parents warning me to keep out of sight from the Neopians from the village. I moved swiftly through the tall grass, telling myself to hurry so I'd be back before Mom and Dad would get worried.

I finally burst out into a small clearing, where I began digging with all my strength. Hurry! I told myself again. Mom and Dad were surely awake! And they would be so anxious, I hoped they had seen my hasty note.

At last my paws hit something hard, a dirty old chest. I pulled open the lid and grabbed the few NP hidden there, then raced off back to Mom and Dad. Oh, wouldn't they be surprised!

But when I reached the dirt road again, I immediately knew that something was wrong. The grass lay flattened and trampled, and large footprints marked the dirt. I anticipated the worst. I silently crossed the road, and when I reached the other side I let out a long howl of misery.

Mom and Dad lay still on the ground, their bodies marked with scars and bruises. Tears streaming from my eyes, I flung myself down between them. I sobbed and sobbed, wondering why such a terrible thing had to happen, when I felt my mother move.

"Mom!" I shouted joyfully. I didn't care any longer whether someone heard me or not. "Mom, it's me, Lupeia! Mom, don't worry, I'm here!"

My mother looked up at me weakly. "Oh Lupeia, you're all right! Your father would be relieved..." As she said those words my tears began to flow freely once more, as I buried my head into my father's fur.

"Lupeia, don't cry sweetie! You're alive, you're safe, that's what matters. You're very lucky you ran off before those terrible people came!" She looked up at me, her eyes losing the sparkle they usually had.

"Mom, don't leave!" My voice echoed miserably in my head. Why? Why did all this have to happen?

"Lupeia, take care. I can't stay, I...I...have to join your father." The words came out with difficulty. "But take this, Lupeia, and remember that we will always be with you. This will protect you from harm." She handed me a Lupe Moon Charm, I placed it carefully around my neck. "Lupeia, remember," my mother said softly, her voice trailing off weakly, "Remember that...we love you."

Those were the last words she ever said to me.

***

Food. I needed food. Desperately I glanced around, but it had been days since I had been able to snatch any food or NP off the ground. And I was much too weak to grab anything at the Money Tree.

Hide. I needed to hide. Or they'd bring me to the pound. No! I couldn't go there, never! They'd see me without a collar and find out I had no owner. What would I do then? I'd die at the pound, I'd rather die here.

My stomach growled loudly. The Soup Kitchen? No, they'd catch me for sure if I went there. I curled myself up hopelessly. What could I do? I needed Mom and Dad...

My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of voices. Peeking out from my hiding spot in the grass, I saw a group of vicious looking Scorchios walking down the road. I lay as stiffly and silently as I could, but they found me somehow. One snatched me up and tossed me onto the ground.

"Ha! Look at this little runt. Too weak to run away, an easy catch! Like her parents, I remember them!" He laughed at me. I growled. Anger boiled up inside of me, how dare he say that about my parents! Forgetting my hunger I sprang at the Scorchio, knocking him to the ground. He stared at me in surprise.

"C'mon, let's hunt somewhere else." He motioned for the others to follow.

I too was surprised. Where had that ferocious leap come from? And then I suddenly remembered the Lupe Moon Charm on my neck.

***

Though the charm had given me enough strength to attack that Scorchio, I continued to grow weaker and weaker. Once I ventured from my hiding spot, only to find I had no energy to crawl back. In no time at all I was found.

"Well well! What have we here!" A tall man with a booming voice stood over me. "A little Lupe! Poor thing's lost!" He chuckled as he picked up my weak body, and began to walk down the road toward the city.

***

I woke up abruptly. I must have dozed off. The tall man was still holding me firmly, but now walking through the loud maze of streets of Neopia City. I was more frightened than ever.

The man began to enter a tall, gloomy, gray building. As he walked through the door a wave of misery passed through me. I howled very suddenly, softly, yet full of pain and sorrow. I knew where this was. And I knew why I was here.

"Excuse me, mister?" He addressed the ugly, mean looking Techo at the front desk. "How much would it be to abandon this poor Lupe?"

"80 NP. And no bargaining!" the Techo snarled fiercely

With one paw I grasped the Lupe Moon Charm around my neck. "Oh please, don't leave me with this monster!" I cried.

The man paid the money and walked off. I stared at him in utter disbelief. Why? Why was he leaving me? Why was he abandoning me? Why was my life falling apart in utter ruin?

The Techo at the desk grabbed me off the floor. I snapped and growled, but I was far too weak for my actions to do anything. He hauled me past cages of other abandoned pets, threw me roughly into an empty one, and slammed the door in my face. I had no energy left to do anything, except collapse into a dreamless sleep.

To be continued...