The Sypder's Amulet: Part Three

by beckykwinson

We stared, shaken at the scene for a few minutes, before we came to our senses, and began to run back towards the small Haunted Village. The thundering of Mutant Feet behind us pounded the ground, causing small tremors. None of us stopped to think who the mysterious Lupe was, until he was running along side us, sweating profusely. All six of us headed straight for the nearest building- the Witches Tower. Edna pointed one green wrinkled finger at us as we sped up her stone steps, and burst through the tower room door.

"Not YOU again!" she groaned, glaring at Becki, who turned magenta. "You ALWAYS ruin my spells!"

Shadows flew up the stairs, accompanied by the skinny blue Lupe. He looked exactly like me. I was beginning to wonder if this was some mad dream. Shadows bawled at the witch, yelling at the top of his foghorn voice.

"Have you not heard, you old bat? The Spyder Army's loose again, and they're trying to kill us!"

The witch shuffled over to the grey window, mumbling something softly. She threw open the window, just as a mutant Korbat flapped above her, screeching loudly. Edna groaned.

"Oh shut up you over grown fruit bat!" She waved her hand, and threw a ball of green light from the window, and batted the Korbat round the head, yelling: "Crawl back to your slimy, rat infested hole, you little brats!"

We all crowded round the window. The thousands of Mutants were now flying backwards over the hill, accompanied by several flaming balls of green light. I struggled to hold back my amazement.

"You can do MAGIC?"

"Don't look so surprised, dearie. If Neopians knew I was a fully competent witch, would they help me out with spells?"

I kept silent. The stories weren't true then. Edna was actually a cunning witch, totally able and, I thought, rather cheeky too. She rubbed her hands.

"So, my pets, what can I do for you? A Jetsam Cannon of Flotsam Wobbling? A Wocky Amulet of Kacheek Frazzling? Or maybe a Lupe wand of Chia Hunting?"

"That would be nice," I said hastily "But we just needed help getting rid of those mutants. We didn't really think about you."

Edna's beetle black eyes narrowed dangerously. Shadow poked me hard in the rib cage. He cleared his throat.

"Actually Edna, we were wondering if you could possibly find us some Healing Potions, and tell us where we would find out who this thin young Lupe is?" For the first time, we all stared at the young blue Lupe, who was now slumped on the floor, snoring peacefully. Edna chucked some potions and Elixirs into Becki's bag, and handed us each a bag of Peanut Butter Spyders, which were quite tasty.

"As for that blue bag of bones" she chuckled" You'd better consult the Brain Tree. He knows everything in these parts."

We left after that, carrying the Lupe over our shoulders. He was barely heavier than my rucksack. The Lupe was mostly skin and bones. We eventually reached the Brain Tree, which loomed up through the murky fog, it's "brain" bulging and throbbing unpleasantly. A mutant Chia leaning against it leered unpleasantly at us, making Tuftyia squeal.

"Yes?" The tree boomed, making us jump.

"Well, erm, could you tell us, erm who this, erm Lupe is?" I stammered, shivering.

The tree looked confused. "You are a Lupe." it finally said, after much contemplation. Honestly, for one of the cleverest things in the world, it seemed pretty dumb. I ground my teeth.

"I know that. I mean THIS Lupe!"

I pointed at the stranger snoring happily on the muddy ground. The Brain Tree muttered something to the Mutant Chia, who produced a ridiculously large pair of glasses, and placed them over the Trees Eyes, propping them up on a large knot in the bark that looked like a nose. The tree spoke. "Is that a Lupe? I thought it was a furry bag of bones, with two ears."

"Would we be likely to carry one of those around?" Bubbleisia snapped impatiently, almost throwing the sweets at the tree. I could tell he was getting his famous Shoyru temper wound up again, and didn't think it would get us very far if the tree ended up with a face full of Peanut Butter. I interrupted hurriedly.

"Just tell us who he is, it's important. For all we know, he could be a spy." The Brain Tree squinted at the skinny Lupe.

"Are you SURE it's a Lupe?" he muttered, narrowing his eyes.

"POSITIVE!" shouted all six of us, almost glowing with anger.

"Okay, if you're sure... but I thought this guy was dead. Let me check my records..."

He sighed, and yawned impressively. His pulsating brain glowed an eerie electrical blue, and behind his glasses, the tree's eyes opened wide.

"AHA! Got it! Last recorded data, Neopian Times, Year 1. Report of pupils missing from local school. Sighting of infantile Lupe being dragged into a cave. Witness- Ms. Sally Cybunny, 23 Aisha Avenue. Oh-" the tree's face fell. "Record- confirmed death. Ms. Sally Cybunny, murder. Culprit-unconfirmed. Witness suggests large black Spyders- authorities say absurd-the Neopian Times, Year 2. Record-confirmed birth of twins. Species: Lupe. Colour: Blue. Gender:Male x2. Names: Icebolt and Iceburg. RECORD MATCH!

Report! Haunted Woods Village School! Icebolt, blue Lupe, male, suspected missing. Last seen, 1st day of Sleeping, Year 2. Statement says went exploring a cave. Owner uncontactable."

The tree looked down his wooden nose at the stranger, and confirmed all of our guesses.

"That bag of skin and bones, is Icebolt the Blue Lupe, born 10 years ago, NST. Brother of Iceburg, born also on that date." There was a silence, broken only by the snores of my twin. We all stared, dumbfounded, until Shadows knelt down by the Lupe's face, and began to cry softly.

To be continued...