A Tale of a Hero to All

By Laura Guthrie (Grrrrpets)

Part 1

As the summer breeze went by Scuzzewolf's shelter, he shivered in his sleep. The morning sun rose high in the east, shining brightly in his eyes. He groaned and rolled over on his newspapers inside his cardboard box. He felt a sharp jab in his side, and he growled angrily.

"Now what?" he says as he rolls over to look at whoever may be there.

A tall dark figure stands over him, a black trench coat hung about his shoulders. Scuzzewolf screams in fright as he jumps to his paws, and dashes to the right. But the figure is too quick for him. Instantly, he is collared, and he falls to the figure's feet. The figure chuckles to himself, and reaches down, grabbing Scuzzewolf by his collar, and starts dragging the white Lupe away.

***

"Darn it! Where is that Lupe?" grumbled Laura, as she set his food down for the day. She whistled, called, clapped and everything else that would normally get her Lupe to come to her, but nothing seemed to work on this one morning. She hurriedly packed her stuff up, and slammed the door shut, leaving the little 'doggie' door open for her Lupe.

She rushed by her Cybunny's home and garden patch, while saying good-bye. She stopped by the Jetsam's pond as well, calling out her name.

"FeiceFighter!"

A striped Jetsam popped out of the water, squirting a hello to Laura.

"Yes, Laura?"

"Where did Scuzzewolf go this morning?"

"Let me think. He stopped to talk to Rip Claw, but then he sprinted down that alley over there. But earlier I saw a long black car pull up and then after a while, just take off."

Laura's eyes widened, as she realized what happened. "What?! What was the number on the plates?"

"I don't remember. Sorry Laura."

Laura dropped all of her stuff and ran across the street, not even thinking about the cars. She fell to her knees, right in front of Scuzzewolf's box. She could see the paper had been thrown away, and the box was dented in quite badly. She suddenly wept, the thought of losing her baby was horrible, but then it dawned on her. She whispered his dreaded name, which cursed the land of Neopia.

"Sloth."

***

Scuzzewolf slowly opened his eyes. His surroundings very new to him indeed. He sat up the best he could in his tiny new cell, his eyes wide with curiosity. Scuzzewolf looked down at his paws, and took in a quick breath. His once prized paws were now torn and muddy, the claws chipped unevenly. And worst of all, a large red number was painted on them. It was the number 5.

He growled angrily, and punched his front paws at the cage door repeatedly, screaming, "Let me out!!" He thrashed and through his paws against the cage until he felt an electric shock to his throat. Scuzzewolf yelled in agony, and then lay silent. He slowly opened his eyes when he heard a slight tap upon the cage bars. He glared at Dr. Sloth's green face. It was plastered with a mocking grin.

Scuzzewolf lay back, and listened as he breathed heavily. "So, my dear Lupe, it seems you've found yourself in a pickle."

At this remark, Scuzzewolf tried to move but only found pain in doing so. Dr. Sloth make a "tsk tsk" sound with his tongue. "I advise you not to move, unless you want your beautiful looks to be made into mutant ugliness. Anyway, I brought you here to be my loyal servant. Thus, you get that lovely cell, an 8oz. cup of food once a day, and a 12oz of water. But that's only if you behave."

Dr. Sloth's smile turned wicked, as Scuzzewolf hissed back, "You are sick."

Dr. Sloth shook his head, as Scuzzewolf is shocked again. "You see, I am the one in control here, what matters is my happiness."

The Lupe stays quiet. Dr. Sloth pressed a button and 8oz of dry food spilled onto Scuzzewolf's head. He growled in protest.

Dr. Sloth then pressed another button, which forced Scuzzewolf's mouth open, as he threw the food one by one into his mouth. He laughed as he scored one after another. After he finished with that treatment, he opened the cage and grabbed the Lupe by his collar, dragging him out. Once he was out of the cage, he dropped him onto the floor, leaving his limp body helpless.

Dr. Sloth looked down at him and said, "On your paws." Scuzzewolf had no choice, so he climbed to his paws, and started to follow Dr. Sloth, unwillingly.