Rosalina and the Way-Weird Beast

     Rosalina awoke to the smell of pancakes and a loud, clanging sound. In the kitchen, she saw Wendy noisily washing dishes while Lenny flipped a pancake. “Good morning, gorgeous!” Lenny exclaimed as he flipped the pancake onto a plate. “Seat yourself down and we’ll be with you in a sec, doll-face.”

     “Wha?” Rosalina rubbed her eyes. “Why are you still here?” she yawned.

     “We can't leave without having breakfast, silly-dilly.” Wendy began spoon-feeding oatmeal to Margo, who was wrapped in a blanket and shivering. “Besides, everybody we know agrees that Lenny makes the best pancakes in Neopia!”

     “Yeah, and that Fyora impersonator we met at that convention said the same thing too!” Lenny brought the stack of pancakes to the table. He sat next to Rosalina. “Anywho, we'll be on our merry way after breakfast. Oh, and we’ll need to finish cleaning up first.”

     “Don’t forget about the post office. I still need to figure out where my General Store coupons disappeared to,” said Wendy, feeding Margo another spoonful.

     Rosalina ignored her bumbling houseguests as she stuffed her mouth with Lenny’s not-so-bad pancakes. She kept an eye on her sister; Margo was still shivering, but she seemed much better now. After finishing her oatmeal, Margo was able to feed herself an apple while Wendy babbled loudly with Lenny. While they were talking and laughing, Rosalina hissed to Margo, “Are you feeling better yet?”

     Margo nodded. “I’m alright,” she croaked.

     “Thank goodness!” Wendy exclaimed. “And good idea: an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

     “Especially if you throw them just right,” Lenny added. “Apples are great fighting tools that can be used to ward off evildoers and Werelupes.” He turned to Rosalina. “Aren't you glad that scary and hairy Werelupe freed you for some reason? Now you can live your life as a free Neopian….like Wendy and I!”

     Wendy nodded. “You can join us on our shopping excursions!”

     No, thank you. Rosalina turned back to Margo. “Do you need any more food, dearest sister?” she asked. “Perhaps a possibly-expired cup of yoghurt?”

     “I’m good, thanks.” Margo coughed. “Your new friends are pretty zany, Rosalina,” she remarked. “They’re definitely a lot more free-spirited and energetic than you.”

     Rosalina watched Wendy and Lenny laugh out loud as they washed the dishes. She rolled her eyes. “They’re….um, definitely something.”

     “And that Meepit you brought back?” Margo scooped Beanie into her arms. “Where’d you find it?”

     “The poor lil’ darling was living with that brutish Werelupe guy,” Rosalina explained. “So he….um, decided to come with me because he thinks I’m so pretty and fun to be around.” She reached over to pet Beanie.

     Margo frowned. “I can’t believe you were so eager to replace me at that beast’s prison. What in Neopia were you thinking, Rosalina??? Why did you act so stupidly that day?”

     Rosalina grabbed Beanie and snuggled the squirming Meepit. “Geez, judgemental much?? I was only thinking about your well-being, Miss Saintly Margo the Superior. Yet all you want to do is criticize and look down at me with your ugly, misshapen nose.”

     “How immature.” Margo grabbed her sister’s free hand. “I don’t mean to sound judgy,” she said softly, “it’s just that, well, you’re the only family member I have. If anything were to happen to you, I would have never forgiven myself.”

     “Oh yeah, and blaming yourself would make so much sense,” joked Rosalina. “You always have to be so righteous, don’t you?”

     Margo wiped her eyes. “Guess so.”

     The sisters looked at each other and laughed. Rosalina didn’t know why they were giggling so hard; every few seconds, she had to wipe tears off her face. After they were able to calm down and catch their breaths, Rosalina said, “You know, Wilbur the Werelupe isn’t such a bad Neopian. In fact, he’s sort of pleasant in the right shadow.”

     “Really?” gasped Margo.

     “He’s just angry because his little brother is sick,” Rosalina explained. “That’s why he requested your help….you know, before locking you up.”

     Margo shook her head. “If he told me this instead of imprisoning me, I would have been more than happy to help him. Still, it’s nice to know he isn’t such a bad Werelupe and he was willing to let you go.”

     “Yeah, um about that….” Rosalina gulped. “Wilbur never said I could leave forever. He only gave me a one day pass and I sort of overstayed my welcome by hanging out around here last night.”

     “Rosalina!” Margo exclaimed.

     “Hey, YOU needed me!” Rosalina retorted. “What did you want me to do? Leave you here?”

     “If it meant steering away from that Werelupe’s wrath, then you should have,” Margo insisted. “Anyways, I think it’s time for you to leave. Hurry back to that beast’s house and maybe, if you're super lucky, he’ll let your absence pass.”

     Rosalina groaned. She had no desire to see Wilbur again, nor explain why she took Beanie away with her. But one look at Margo’s concerned expression made Rosalina slump down into her chair. She knew what she had to do, even if it meant the world was possibly coming to an end.

     ***

     “Wowzers! Look at those blackening clouds.” Wendy pointed to the sky.

     Rosalina looked up at the dark grey clouds looming above them. It looked like a wonderful thunderstorm was coming. “Oooh, I hope it rains soon.” She shoved a container of leftover stew to Wendy. “Here you go. Thanks for stopping by, and try not to get lost on your way to wherever you live.”

     “Thanks, Rosie!” Wendy hugged Rosalina, then Margo. “Take care, dearie!”

     “You too. And thanks so much for stopping by,” said Margo.

     Before Lenny would say anything weird, a loud chorus of howls echoed around them. Rosalina shivered. The howling reminded her of the time she tried to escape from Wilbur, only to meet a group of Werelupes in the woods. Sure enough, a large circle of Werelupes were surrounding them now, emerging from a cloud of fog that had suddenly appeared before them.

     Not again! Rosalina watched the Werelupes’s glowing yellow eyes inch closer towards her. Some of the beasts were showing off their glossy white fangs.

     “Careful.” Margo pulled Rosalina towards her.

     “Wow! I’ve never seen so many Werelupes in one place before,” Wendy remarked cheerfully. “Isn’t this exciting, Lenny?”

     “Do you think they’ll perform some kind of tribal dance to welcome us into their pack?” asked Lenny.

     A Werelupe howled loudly and ran towards the group. Margo screamed. Rosalina couldn’t do anything; she was frozen, unable to move or even make a murmur. Wendy, however, approached the Werelupe and flipped him onto the ground. When two more Werelupes joined the fight, Lenny defeated them in minutes with a bunch of fancy kung-fu moves Rosalina had only seen in games.

     What in Neopia just happened? Rosalina and Margo exchanged a glance.

     “Now, who wants to face the almighty Wendy and the Fabulously Fabulous Lenny?” Wendy proclaimed to the other Werelupes.

     Lenny watched the defeated Werelupes retreat to the shadows. “Not only do we sparkle,” he said, striking a pose, “we shine!”

     A tall Werelupe with a red and black checkered shirt stepped forward. “My, what a couple of fierce warriors you two are,” he grumbled. “Your skills seem more fitted for the Battledome than this dreary place.”

     Rosalina removed herself from Margo’s grip and stepped forward. “Aiden, is that you? What are you guys doing here?”

     “And who told you that blue jeans pair well with a red shirt?” asked Lenny.

     Aiden grinned. “I’m pleased you’ve remembered me, lil’ girl. I thought you’d forget all about us after you decided to retreat back to your medicine shop.”

     “Maybe it’s because I actually live here?” Rosalina retorted.

     “If you want Rosie, you’ll have to get through me first.” Wendy brought up two fists.

     Aiden turned to his comrades and, with two claws, sent them towards the group. Everyone rushed back into the apothecary shop; Margo slammed the door shut and locked it. Wendy and Lenny dragged a crate from the storage room and dropped it in front of the door.

     Rosalina’s heart thudded as the Werelupes banged the door. “We should retreat upstairs until those hairy weirdos leave us alone.”

     “Good idea.” Margo led everyone upstairs, then locked the door before placing a stack of chairs in front of it. “There. Now we’ll be safe from those beasts,” she sighed.

     “I can't believe you beat up that Werelupe earlier,” Rosalina marvelled to Wendy. It was the first time she was actually impressed by her companion’s actions.

     Wendy beamed. “Lenny and I are skilled in martial arts. And we’re pretty well-known in the Battledome arenas.”

     “Of course we look much better with our pretty weapons,” said Lenny. “I especially love my hairdryer-shaped laser beam!”

     “That’d be a sight to see,” said Rosalina. “I’m surprised you two coul‒” The loud clatter of footsteps rumbled the ground beneath her.

     “SWEET FYORA, THE WERELUPES ARE NOW INSIDE!” Rosalina shrieked, clinging onto Wendy.

     Everyone watched as a hairy fist punched a hole into the door. A few more punches and kicks occurred before the door fell forwards. Three tall Werelupes, and a smaller one with sharp fangs, were staring at the group before turning their gazes toward Rosalina.

     Aiden stepped forward. “Now then, how about you come with us, Miss Xweetok. Wilbur’s been mighty furious you left without his permission.” He clucked. “It’s such a shame when somebody decides to break their promise. So let's go before it gets any darker.”

     “Yeah, promise-breaker,” hissed the younger Werelupe. “Come with us or we’ll eat you all!”

     To be continued…