Past Collar and Leash: Part Two by moonstripe |  |
Two Lupes, their fur a coal black, snarled at them, their red glowing eyes
shining bright. Boar and Black: "It's over."
Without even stopping to think, Kyro slid under Boar's front legs, and raced
on through the hall, Paroko close behind. Howling with rage, the two guard Lupes
reared, close behind the escapees. Kyro was terrified. If they ever caught up
to them, they wouldn't have a chance. How could he have been so stupid to forget
Boar and Black!?!
He had no idea where they were going. But they tore on, the Lupes but 10 feet
behind, snarling and barking. Once, a woman stepped into the hall from her office,
and was bowled over by the fleeing Neos.
Kyro didn't know how much longer he could hold up, when suddenly he saw it.
In front of them, a window was open. "Over here!!!" he yelled at Paroko. The
Pteri dove through first, and watched frantically as Kyro scrambled to the sill,
"Get up 'ere Kyro!"
Kyro dove headfirst through, landing on the soft grass outside. Not stopping,
he chased after Paroko, who was heading to the fence. Across the lawn they fled,
not daring to look back.
The Pteri flew swiftly over the fence, but Kyro was having trouble. Panic stricken,
he dug deep under the fence, as Paroko spluttered on uselessly, "Oh man, Dis
is de end! Hurry, der comin'! Oh Kyro, 'ow'd I let choo talk me inta dis?!"
Barking and howls were close behind him, and Kyro dug furiously with the last
bit of strength he had. Boar and Black were right behind him!!! He wiggled into
the hole, the fence scratching deep into his flesh. Above him, Paroko squeaked,"
Run, man run!!!"
He was almost through, when something clamped hard onto his leg. Looking around,
he saw Blacks face, triumph showing through. She pulled hard, and Kyro was being
forced back into the yard. Paroko flew down, and Kyro yelled, "Help me Paroko!!!"
The Pteri worriedly flapped around, "I'm trying, I'm trying!!!"
Kyro latched his paws around Paroko's tail, and the Pteri pulled. The pain
in his leg was immense, and he didn't know if he could make it. His body was
more than halfway back through the hole, and Boar howled almost merrily, "We
gotcha now! Your in the bag, rat!!!" Kyro wouldn't go out like this! He had
to get back to Tye. With jolt, he kicked back hard with his free leg.
His claws scratched a deep row of cuts into Black's nose, and she reared, howling
in pain. Kyro seized his chance, and squeezed through the fence. He lay panting
on the other side, as Boar yelled, "No!!! Come back here, or I'll tear ya t
a pieces!!!"
"Help me!" Boar snarled, reeling on her.
Kyro stood up, wobbling slightly, "Come on Paroko, let's get out of here..."
He began to limp towards the distant forest, as Boar cried, "Come back here
you coward!!! Grrr..." Paroko jeered at the Lupe through the fence, "You can't
even catch a little birdie!!! He he he!!!" Boar barked, and leapt at the fence
in the attempt to reach his tormentor. Paroko stuck out his tongue, and zipped
off to join Kyro.
***
The rest of the day was spent walking through the dense, coniferous forest.
The scent of pine and oak were heavenly, and Kyro was happy to be outdoors after
his stressing ordeal at the pound. But Paroko... that's a different story. He
flapped along silently for a while, then began to complain. When Kyro didn't
answer, he would return to silence.
By now, he had gone to sulking, "Dis stinks," he moaned. Then, he flopped to
the ground, and began to walk, dragging his wings, "My flapper's are broken,"
he said, hopping along behind Kyro.
Finally, he flopped down, "I'm dyin'! Tell Lassie I loved 'er!" This was to
much for Kyro, and he began to chuckle, "Paroko, if you leave me now I'll never
make it out of here!"
The sun was just dipping over the trees as Kyro and Paroko dragged themselves
wearily into the park. The swings swayed in the breeze, squeaking and moaning.
Kyro slumped across the copper toned grass, and crawled under a worn wooden
bench, while Paroko perched himself on the edge of a near by trash can. The
breeze ruffled his feathers, as he said quietly to Kyro, "‘Night, man. See you
in de morning." There was no reply, but the rustling of fallen leaves.
***
Kyro was jolted into wakefulness, as a dull red ball rolled up beside him.
Still groggy, he sniffed it and crawled out from under the bench. Stretching,
and giving himself a shake, he gazed around.
The sun had been up for a while, and the whole park glowed in its light. A
small pond at the other end of the field shimmered.
Only then did he notice the Neopets. There were about four or five of them,
apparently playing tag near the park’s edge. One appeared to be racing towards
him. It was a Kyrii. As it approached, he could see her sandy yellow fur was
rather scruffy (compared to his), and that she was wearing a beaded blue earring.
As she got closer, she smiled, her sapphire eyes dancing, and asked, "Have you
seen our ball?"
Dumbfounded, Kyro looked around, and retrieved the rubber ball from beneath
the grass under the bench. He knew he was blushing, as he handed it to her.
She accepted it, and looked curiously over his shoulder, "Who’s your friend?"
Kyro turned around, where Paroko was sitting on the bench. His beak was stained
blue and red.
Ruffling his wings, he flapped down beside Kyro, and looking up at him, smiling
mischievously, said, "Hey Kyro me man, I didn’t know you ‘ad a girlfriend!"
At this, Kyro blushed furiously, and cuffed Paroko around the head, making him
lose his balance and fall on his tail. Kyro faced him, "She’s not my girlfriend!"
The other Kyrii interrupted, "Uh, you guys wanna play?"
"Huh?" Kyro said, turning around. She repeated, pointing to her friends, who
were waiting for her, "Do you guys wanna play ball?"
Kyro hesitated, but Paroko hopped up and said, "Sure, it's not like we’re doin’
anyt’in’ else, eh Kyro?"
The three jogged over to the others. The sandy furred Kyrii smiled again at
Kyro. "So your name’s Kyro, huh? Nice."
Kyro avoided her eyes, and said, "Yeah." She pushed a stray strand hair from
her face, answering, "I'm Rieni." They approached the group.
Both Kyro and Paroko stopped dead, as the others ran up to join them. At the
head off them ran a blue Lupe, fangs wide and a sly look about him. Both the
newcomers were ready to run, but Rieni ran up to meet them, "Hey guys! This
is Kyro and his pal! Kyro, this is The Gang. Napa, Blossom, Runnaro and Roararo."
The first, Napa, was a rather small blue Shoyru. He had a scar across one wing,
and looked like a carefree sort of type.
Blossom was a prissy sort of Kacheek, green in colour with a white apple blossom
behind her ear. She had a well-groomed tail, and wasn’t nearly as rough as the
rest.
Runnaro stood close to Roararo. He looked as if he were a rather hyper sort
of Gelert, his short fur a bright daisy yellow. He flicked his tail about, running
around Roararo. Kyro got the impression he rarely sat still.
The Lupe, Roararo, despite he had done nothing so far, still made Kyro uneasy.
He sported a sky blue coat and creamy under belly. His tongue lolled, and his
bushy tail swiped back and forth.
All together, it was a rowdy bunch. All looked like they had had better days…
"So, are we gonna play ball?" Rieni asked, tossing the ball to Napa. Paroko
took to the air.
"I’m on his team!!!"
"I’d… rather not play."
"Oh come on Blossom!"
"Over here Kyro, you can play on our team!"
"Heads up Roararo!!!"
"What?" Smack… "Owww…"
***
The sun was high, and all the Neo’s were bushed. They lay sprawled across the
lawn by the pond, some in the shade of the trees. Both Kyro and Paroko’s first
impressions of Roararo, the Lupe, were far from his actual attitude. He was
actually rather a slow thinker, and wasn’t too sharp… More like a playful puppy.
He and Runnaro claimed to be ‘twins’ and were always together.
Paroko and Napa were becoming close friends. They sat in the tree, Paroko telling
of his adventures in Tyrannia (though he had never left Central Neopia in his
life).
Meanwhile Kyro and Rieni were by the pond, dipping their paws in and talking,
Kyro explaining his quest to find Tye. "…and after our night here in the park,
we’re glad we met you guys."
" I am too," said Rieni.
There was silence, both seemed a little embarrassed. Then, Rieni asked a peculiar
question.
"Kyro…. Are you a Flyer?"
Kyro looked at her, "What?" She stood up, wiping her paws on the grass, "Never
mind, forget I asked."
Kyro was confused. "But wha-" She interrupted him by saying, "It’s past noon,
and I’m sure you’re getting hungry. We’ll go to Obbio’s Restaurant for lunch."
Kyro didn’t admit it, but he was starving, and ran behind Rieni as they left
the park for the city streets.
***
The moon sparkled, it’s dappled silver light hitting the dark hilltop through
the trees. Calm surrounded the forest…
Snap. Two pairs of red eyes blossomed out of the darkness. With stealth
born to them, Boar and Black crept out of the shadows, and stood framed in the
moonlight’s sheen, over looking the dimly lit park below. Black sniffed the
air, and snarled, nodding to Boar. The wind ruffled his fur, and he looked into
the dark to the shimmering city beyond the trees, "We’ll find them."
To be continued... |
