A Lupe's Tale

Deep in the dark, cold mountains of Tyrannia, there live Neopets unlike any other. Were you to take a walk in this forbidding landscape, you would only catch flashes of these incredible creatures. A streak of yellow and black fur here, a tuft of purplish-blue fur caught on a bush there. Paw prints pressed deep within the snow reveal that these creatures are much larger than the average Neopets, and much more primal.

     The screech of the Pteris would cause you to stop and think a moment. Cause you to wonder if it was such a good idea for a modern creature such as yourself to set foot in this deadly white expanse of rock and ice. The sound of sloshing snow a distance away reveals a Tyrannian Tuskaninny breaking through the ice with his tusks before disappearing into a deep mountain lake. You would do well to keep walking.

     Further on, you find yourself in a warmer area, a valley of solitude among the high mountains. A place frozen in time far above the Tyrannian Plateau. Tyrannian Elephantes browse from the high branches of ancient trees. Tonus wander quietly amid the herds. You catch your breath and wait. Have they seen you? What will they do if they DO see you? Peaceful herbivores they may be, but would you really want to be on the bad side of something with tusks that large or a horn that sharp? You slip back into the forest.

     The snow is getting deeper here, the farther you move away from the valley, and the going is difficult. Your legs sink up to the calves in the cold whiteness with every step, and you're beginning to have trouble feeling your feet. Still, you press on. What would be the point of turning back now? You've not come this far to be deterred from your quest, whatever that may be. But whatever has brought you to this forbidden landscape has done so with no regard for your own safety. For there are creatures in this ancient world beyond your worst nightmares. Creatures primal and vicious. Creatures with claws and fangs unseen in the rest of Neopia for thousands if not millions of years.

     You find yourself almost longing for the safety of a Tyrannian village. Despite the distant roars of Grarrls, you know you'd be safe among more civilized surroundings. Again, though, you press on, turning your fear aside as so much snow in your path. You came here for a reason. But will that reason be your demise?

     Stumbling upon prints that appear too large to be Kougra tracks, with claws that have left deep furrows in the snow, you pause. What kind of primitive Kougra could leave prints this large, with non-retractable claws? As you stoop to consider these strange prints, a low growl from nearby causes you to freeze. The sound of snow crunching under giant paws is coming from just behind the large rock to your left. Slowly, the terrifying creature comes into view.

     Almost twice the size of any other colored Kougra, with a deep golden yellow pelt cut with black stripes, the Tyrannian Kougra's huge paws work like snowshoes, keeping her from sinking into the snow. Her claws cut furrows into the cold white landscape, leaving the very unique paw prints you had been admiring. Her long tail swishes slowly, the tip twitching back and forth, while intelligent gold eyes watch your every motion. Her mouth opens, the long fangs gleaming in the sunlight reflecting off the pristine white surface of the snow.

     You feel yourself begin to shake as the huge shape slowly circles you, her long, shaggy fur almost brushing the surface of the snow as she stalks around you. Her pink tongue darts out, running over her fangs as she continues to watch you. You find yourself becoming more and more certain that those fangs may be the last thing in Neopia that you will ever see.

     Suddenly, the Kougra's head snaps up, her ears swiveling quickly. A moment later, you hear a long, low, mournful howl echoing over the frozen landscape. It sounds like a Lupe, and yet… How could a Lupe possibly make this massive Kougra as nervous as she seems to be?

     The Kougra turns in a tight circle and hisses, her ears lying back, as her eyes focus on a point somewhere above and behind you. At the same time you find yourself covered in a sudden shadow. Something large is standing on the rock behind you… Something that, from the shadow it is casting, has very large tusks.

     The howl sounds again, and there is no doubt that it is coming from the creature standing behind you. The Kougra hisses again, then turns and runs at top speed, leaping to the top of a rock that is as large as your neohome, and then disappearing behind it, yowling its protest at being forced to run.

     You duck reflexively as the large creature from behind you leaps from its rock and soars over your head, landing in almost the exact spot that the terrifying Kougra has just vacated. You swallow nervously, for it seems that your savior is even larger and more intimidating than the previous threat.

     The Tyrannian Lupe is truly an impressive sight, its mighty curving tusks sprouting from the front of its shaggy snout, its gold eyes shining from beneath the bushy deep blue eyebrows. The Lupe's fluffy tail swishes slowly from side to side as he shifts his weight on paws even larger than those of the Tyrannian Kougra.

     You and the huge Lupe regard each other for a few moments that seem to stretch into eternity. Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, the massive Dire Lupe turns and pads away over the snow, following the tracks of the Tyrannian Kougra.

     Where did he come from? Where is he going? And what is his relationship with that Tyrannian Kougra? Perhaps you'll never know. But you do know one thing; that Lupe saved your life. If you ever see him again, you'll do everything in your power to repay him. And the moment you get back to Neopia Central, you will nominate him for the Pet Spotlight. Because, after all, who deserves such an honor more than a true hero? A hero like-

#Reality#

     "DURESCO!"

     The Blue Lupe almost broke his pencil at his sister's shout from the hall of their Neohome. "Just a minute!" he called, rushing to finish the last sentence in his short story.

     "No, NOW," his sister, a Yellow Kougra, said, sticking her head in the door. "Your Doglefox chased my sweet Gruslen up a tree again."

     Duresco groaned and put his pencil down. "Fine… Okay. I'm coming, Dyritas." He stood up and moved away from his desk.

     Dyritas smirked and peeked over her brother's shoulder at his writings. "What's this?"

     Duresco rushed to close his notebook. "Nothing. Just a short story."

     Dyritas giggled. "Duresco the hero Tyrannian Lupe, huh? What adventure did you write yourself into today?"

     The Lupe glared at the Kougra, putting his notebook away. "For your information, it's going to be a Pet Spotlight entry. Or maybe a Neopian Times story… I haven't decided yet."

     Dyritas smirked. "Save the world all you like, little brother. But just make sure you keep better track of your petpet." She swiped her paw playfully at her brother's ears. "Or else someone's going to have to save you from ME."

     Duresco rolled his eyes, following his sister out of his room. "Yeah, right. I'm older than you."

     "You're smaller than me, too."

     The Lupe made a face, but ignored his sister's jibe. Someday, when he'd saved up enough for that elusive Tyrannian Paint Brush, he wouldn't be her 'little' older brother anymore. Some day, he would be the heroic Dire Lupe of his stories.

     Until then, he'd just have to settle for rescuing her petpet from his own.

     Some day, I'll be a hero, he thought. And as he saved Dyritas' Gruslen from his Doglefox, he failed to realize that, in some creature's eyes… he already was one.

The End