Earthy Petpets This Month of Running!

          Christine: Welcome! When the month of Running arrives each year, minds across Neopia turn to lush green meadows, four-leaf clovers, the colour green in general, beautiful rainbows, and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Therefore, for the green-themed issue of the Neopian Times, I have gathered several Petpets that fit this theme.

     Angie: They better not bite.

     Maldice: Just don’t put your hands near them, and you should be fine.

     Ella: I want to see what cuties you have for us today, Christine!

     Christine: Of course you do! Without further ado, here are the Petpets:

          ---Glowing Cheerlub---

          Christine: Unlike other Glowing Petpets, this one is animated. It is obtained by painting a Cheerlub with a Glowing Petpet Paint Brush.

     Ella: Cool... It looks like it has been enchanted by magic or something.

     Maldice: I can make any Glowing Petpet animated with the right spell.

     Angie: The red eyes look like they glow, too... It’s kinda mean-looking, if you ask me.

     Christine: Not to worry. Cheerlubs aren’t mean; they are very lively, jolly little creatures. How do you think they got their name?

     Ella: ---Pets Cheerlub--- This one is no exception!

     Angie: Well, I will leave the petting to you.

     Maldice: You’re a scaredy-cat, Angie.

     Angie: Have you ever been bitten by a Petpet? Well, I have.

     Maldice: ---rolls eyes--- It couldn’t have been THAT BAD, Angie. What a drama queen!

          ---Gold Frogarott---

     Christine: If you’re searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, look no further. This Petpet is given out by Trudy while already painted, so no need to worry there.

     Ella: It is also very affordable!

     Christine: True. It can jump very high. You’ll be amazed by what this little frog can do!

     Maldice: Wait a minute---

          ---The Frogarott jumps onto a high shelf.---

          Maldice: That thing isn’t exactly a loveable ball of fluff. Be careful, since it can---

          ---The Frogarott spits out a fireball, and it lands in Angie’s braid, setting it on fire.---

          Maldice: ...spit fire.

          ---Angie starts screaming and running around in a panic. Maldice waves her magical wand, and the flame disappears, leaving behind a beautiful, unscorched braid.---

          Maldice: Not to worry. There’s nothing that magic can’t fix!

     Angie: ...Good, but that was scary. I wish I had known earlier!

     Maldice: Anyway, it will be in our best interest to catch this frog before it burns the house down.

          ---Maldice waves her magical wand again to catch the frog.---

          Maldice: Don’t worry. I just used a spell to deactivate its fire-producing glands.

     Ella: Good. Now we can keep it as a Pet!

     Angie: ---sighs--- No!

          ---Green Pikis---

          Christine: This Pikis has a clover on its belly. Perfect for the month of Running! You can obtain a Green Pikis by painting a Pikis with a Green Petpet Paint Brush.

     Ella: Very cute. ---pets the Pikis---

     Angie: Is its fur soft?

     Ella: Try petting it for yourself. I doubt this one will bite.

     Angie: You never know...

     Ella: Well, then, it’s pretty soft.

     Angie: Nice. How does it float in the air?

     Maldice: It uses magic to stay afloat. With the right spell, it can fly indefinitely!

     Ella: Neat... Flying is something that us Draiks take for granted.

          ---Mortog---

          Christine: I thought that it would be a good idea to include at least one unpainted Petpet. The iconic Mortog is native to Meridell, the land of lush green meadows. It stocks at the Meridellian Petpet Shop if you’re quick!

     Ella: It’s also the star of the game “Kiss the Mortog!”

     Christine: True... Just don’t kiss the wrong Mortog.

     Angie: I am not kissing ANY Mortog!

     Ella: Me, neither.

     Maldice: Is it true that you can also find a Mortog in the Meridell Rubbish Dump?

     Christine: Yes, but it’s a rare find, and you still have to be quick! It’s also eligible for the "That's Not Rubbish” avatar, which took me a long time to get:

          Maldice: Meh, I’d rather have the Mortog.

     Angie: Well, you’ll need to give it a bath afterward.

          ---Salad Slorg---

          Christine: This happy little fellow can only be obtained with the help of a lucky zap from the Petpet Lab Ray. Even though it resembles a salad, it shouldn’t be eaten.

     Ella: Very true... Food-themed Petpets are still Petpets, nevertheless.

     Maldice: Come on... Not even one cherry tomato?

     Angie: It will probably bite you if you try to do that, Maldice.

     Maldice: Does it even have teeth?

     Ella: No, but I hear that its slime can cause an unpleasant rash.

     Maldice: Meh, I’d just shrug that off with the right magical spell.

     Christine: You all are missing the point. Petpets are friends, not food, even if they look like food.

     Ella: I suppose you’re right.

          ---Rainbow Turmac---

          Christine: The Turmac is also native to Meridell. It can be found both in the Meridellian Petpet Shop and the Meridell Rubbish Dump. A Rainbow Turmac can be obtained by painting a Turmac with a Rainbow Petpet Paint Brush.

     Maldice: Well, I’d rather buy one from the shop than dig through trash.

     Angie: Doesn’t our sister Sellescha keep one of these things?

     Ella: Yeah. She let us borrow Mackenzie the Rainbow Turmac for our Neopian Times piece. Get it? MACkenzie.

     Maldice: ---groans--- She’s great with corny names, that’s for sure.

     Ella: Anyway, Sellescha has trained Mackenzie not to bite---

          ---Without warning, Mackenzie jumps into Angie’s arms and gives her a great, big hug.---

          Angie: Aaaahhh! You had better not bite me! ---reluctantly holds Mackenzie--- The only Petpet I like to hold is my own...

     Ella: Relax, you bundle of nerves. Mac is just being friendly.

     Angie: I guess...

          ---Woodland Symol---

          Christine: The Symol is also native to Meridell. It can be bought at the Meridellian Petpet Shop, but it cannot be found at the Rubbish Dump, as far as anyone knows. At the time of writing, though, it’s very affordable because it was given out by the Daily Quests.

     Maldice: I wish that we would get unique, fresh items for the Daily Quests instead of recycled items that are over a decade old.

     Angie: Some of the prizes are worth good Neopoints.

     Maldice: But they’re not that special anymore when they’re mass released... I’d like to see a new stamp, and it shouldn’t be available forever.

     Ella: Good point.

     Christine: Anyway, we are way off topic. You can obtain a Woodland Symol by painting a Symol with a Woodland Petpet Paint Brush. This Woodland Petpet has a flower on its nose!

     Ella: Very pretty... The flower smells good, too.

     Maldice: Pink... flowers.... Ick.

     Angie: I like it, but I wouldn’t want to steal it, since the Symol would bite me!

     Maldice: What is with you and your obsession about biting Petpets?!

     Angie: I told you. I got bit once!

     Maldice: So every Petpet from now on is a biter?!

     Christine: Anyway, if you, unlike Maldice, like pink flowers, this Petpet is for you.

          ---Conclusion---

          Christine: So, which Petpet was everyone’s favourite?

     Angie: Anything but that beast which set my braid on fire!

     Ella: Mackenzie. She’s cute and friendly!

     Maldice: Anything but the Woodland Symol. I hate most flowers and the colour pink.

     Christine: Anyway, any Neopet should be able to find a suitable Petpet this month of Running. Until next time, dear readers!