The Woojit That Could...

      This Woojit started out as a simple Slorg. He tried his hardest to get noticed, competing in competitions and spotlights with absolutely no avail. Everyone who knew him always told him to keep his head up, that he would make it eventually - never really understanding what “it,” was.

      Nobody really saw anything in him, hardly the pet that owned him, until The Kookith met him. He tried to stand out to his peers and fellow Petpets, but nothing really made him quite remarkable. Petpetpets scoffed at him - especially the Mootix!

      However, once Woojit stared upon the box in that freaky laboratory, dreaming about Jellyworld, he did not know yet that he was to be changed forever by that Kookith. It wasn’t until the Petpet Laboratory Ray struck him that he realized he would live the rest of his silly, adorable little life as a Desert Slorg. He did not know yet how blessed the rest of his days would be.

      While Woojit typically resented the trips to The Lost Desert to play the game Pyramids with his owner, he now realized that the heat bothered him no more, astonishingly. Instead of sweat, he dripped out odd coins and sand. Woojit always maintained his optimistic smile and never allowed his strange new hat (Neme) to wander from his sweet little head.

      To Woojit, his life couldn’t be better. Nothing bothered him on a daily basis, not that anything ever could. Woojit was one of the happiest Desert Slorgs in all of Neopia.

      That was, until Woojit met Turmaculus.

      Woojit had never met the Great Termaculus before. On purpose, of course. His owner had never exposed Woojit to the Termaculus knowing that awful things could occur.

      However, today was a drowsy, sleepy day; Woojit’s owner had completed many brutal fights in the Battledome and was not thinking quite clearly - causing Woojit to be the active pet’s Petpet, and thus allowing him to finally meet Turmaculus.

      Bravely, Woojit entered the arena that Termaculus was contained within. He stood tall and tried to take in his surroundings. Dully, Woojit pondered for a moment if Termaculus ever left the arena, and if he was ever fed…

      Termaculus’ stony habitat allowed his slumberous roars to be heard from all of Meridell. He was presently demonstrating his deepest sleep roars, which were echoing upon the quarry’s walls loudly. It was almost a dinosaur’s lullaby.

      Woojit exhaled, glad that the Great Termaculus was at least sound asleep.

      Woojit squirmed his way to the finish line that only Petpets can see, eager to clear the apparent goal as quickly as Slorg-ly possible. As he squirmed his way forward silently, a sudden sense of dread washed upon him. He tried his best to push it away, wanting to finish the goal, but could not quite shake it.

      The finish line seemed mere feet away until a rock jarred from the side of the quarry and crashed to the bottom of the pit, almost crushing Woojit. Jumping, Woojit accidentally made an odd noise and winced. He almost screamed but tried to remain as quiet as he possibly could. This was the worst possible thing that could happen; almost worse than the Snowager incident in Y6 that took his friend the Ona somewhere strange!

      Turmaculus rolled over, snoring loudly. As he rolled over, his arm landed profoundly, causing the nearby rocks to quake. Woojit, frozen with fear, was caught beneath his sprawled-out leg.

      Woojit was stuck.

      “Urrrggghghhhhghh,” murmured Turmaculus, turning his head over sleepily. His snoring had shortened, making quick snort-grunts instead of his usual long and drawn-out snores.

      Woojit was trembling, trying to hold his breath. This WAS the Petpet eater, after all. But - he had heard SO many of his friends had completed the task and bragged about it, so why couldn’t he complete it? Woojit’s mind swirled with worry and dreary thoughts. He thought about how his life had been so grand and simple; why his owner had chosen him to visit this awful place at all. Woojit was very scared, alone and unhappy.

      Termaculus’ light breathing was constant.

      Typically, the roar could be heard from all of Meridell; but now it was light.

      Yells from the Meridell Dump and its visitors could be heard - it was so quiet.

      Woojit slowly inched towards the line, having eagerly been staring at it for so long under Termaculus’ leg. Sweat made his Neme move slightly, but he gingerly ushered it to the correct position atop his head. Woojit was determined to make it out of this predicament alive. He wanted to tell this crazy story to Relle and his friends!

      As Woojit reached mere inches from his position, Termaculus rolled over again, trapping Woojit in an even stranger position than he was in before. Now, he had only a slight clue as to where the finish line was.

      Termaculus roared, kicking his feet upright in the air and thrashing violently. A loud noise was heard and followed by a stench that could only be described as horrific.

      The ground quaked, causing stones to fall effortlessly from around the arena.

      Trembling, Woojit determinedly inched towards where he imagined the line to be. He closed his eyes, picturing his favourite Neggs. All that could be heard were the sounds of rocks crumbling as well as the slightest sound of slime hitting the sand.

      Termaculus groaned loudly, rolling over to the opposite side of Woojit.

      The cavern settled, dust in the air as far as Woojit could see.

      Coughing out a ball of dirt, Woojit tried his best to steady his racing little mind.

      —

      Suddenly, Charlie appeared. Bearing his usual brown stained over-alls and pitchfork, not looking impressed at all. He had a wheelbarrow and something hanging out of his mouth.

      “Hey! Have you ever checked out the Meridell Rubbish Dump?” Charlie baulked, his stalk of wheat bouncing from tooth to tooth as he spoke. Woojit, still in disbelief and shaking - unable to believe the events unfolding, poked out of the rubble a little further.

      “Sssss!” Woojit replied, blinking rapidly. He slowly inched out of a pile of gravel that had settled.

      “Well come here, come along now, I know you don’t belong in this neck of woods,” Charlie replied, chuckling. He studied his stalk of wheat and carefully placed it back in his mouth, frowning down at Woojit.

      Woojit slowly slithered to Charlie, gingerly accepting his hand. Letting out a delightful squeak, Woojit proudly stood on Charlie’s shoulder for the entire ride back home. Woojit’s pride was beaming out of his smile.

      As they were leaving the area, Woojit looked over his shoulder one last time. He swore he saw the Termaculus waving at him. Blinking, Woojit chirped and looked forward again, unsure of it all. No matter what he saw, he was thankful to (hopefully) never ever return again.

      —

      Woojit returned back bolstering with bravery and pride. He was chirping and peeping when he finally arrived home.

      “Where have you been!? It’s almost time to visit the soup kitchen!” Woojit’s owner, Relle cried happily.

      With a hiccup, Woojit presented the piece of paper that he had retrieved from his journey.

      It read:

      “Termaculus:

      He gives you 100 Neopoints!!!”

      Woojit smiled sheepishly and rolled over asleep, snoring soundly.

     The End.