Betrayal and Strife

     The waves splashed as the lightning overhead flashed angrily, lighting up everything it could touch, while thunder boomed overhead, sending the aquatic pets down into the ocean deep where it was safe. All but one. A Peophin struggled and fought against the current which was pulling him back, trying to capture him, but he only swam harder, although his muscles ached from the strenuous labor he was performing. His red eyes searched for any sign of land on which he could rest his weary and beaten form, but found none. The Peophin only battled harder, determined to find somewhere where he could stay. He didn't live this long by giving up; he would be dead by now if he had. The wind whipped his mane around him, whistling loudly and making his ears wince in pain as it nipped them, making him feel its bitterness. A wave splashed over him, nearly drowning him under the dark blue ocean and filling his mouth with the unpleasant taste of salt water. He immediately spit it out, disgusted. Then he saw a small island, and as he peered closer he could make out what seemed like a large cave; a haven from the storm. He moved on with more motivation, nearing the sandy shore. The Peophin finally reached it and collapsed on the ground, panting and drenched from swimming through the storm. Lightning flashed once more and he remembered that he had to move on, or die.

     The Peophin snapped out of his memories, turning his gaze away from the sky and onto the ground, studying the green blades of grass as they swayed back and forth, doing as the wind commanded. He lifted his head and turned it to the right. No one else was here but him, for no other pet would be out in the rain. They were probably in their Neohome, sitting by a warm fireplace and reading a thick book, taking what they had for granted. A footstep interrupted his thoughts, and he met the gaze of a frightened blue Nimmo, who quickly dashed off, pulling his red raincoat tighter about him. The Peophin snorted at the Neopet's action. Everyone thought he was a monster, something that would kill anything it laid its eyes upon, but he wasn't. He would never kill a creature without a good reason. This led him to thinking of his past yet again...

     The Peophin planted his hooves firmly in the ground, heaving himself up and walking as fast as he could towards the cave, his eyes fixed firmly on it, never leaving it for fear it might disappear from his sight, leaving him to suffer the fury of the storm. After five minutes of dragging himself across the island, he finally collapsed on the stone floor, his lungs pleading for air. His ears turned and heard a small noise, which made him scan the area with his eyes, ready to fight although half of his energy was drained from him. It sounded again, making him cautiously move towards the source, not knowing what it could be. His eyes rested upon an orange Walein, who looked at him with tiny eyes, leaping into the air and landing in a small puddle. The Peophin stared at this creature, wondering how it got there. He lowered his head down to look at it more closely when the Walein jumped up and hit him lightly on his nose, making him snap his head away, but the petpet only looked at him with its eyes. The Peophin reached a hoof towards it, feeling its scales under it . The Walein made a small noise, causing the Neopet to smile. The Peophin realized he needed to rest, and laid down next to the petpet, closing his eyes.

     He shook off the memories, remembering that meeting. The Walein had not cared about what he looked like; he had not judged the Peophin by his appearance. The petpet had become his friend, but the Peophin's smile changed to a scowl when he thought of that day he had met him. He clenched his teeth, and his red eyes expressed anger and hatred as he remembered that day....

     The sun shined overhead, its warm rays gently touching the island, caressing it. The Peophin's eyes opened, and he stretched, feeling his muscles loosen. The Walein next to him greeted him with his usual noise, splashing around in the shallow puddle of water that he was in. The Peophin trotted out of the cave, looking over the island, which had signs that the storm had been there, such as an overturned palm tree and scattered pebbles that dotted the island like tiny spots. His ears could hear the gentle lapping of the waves on the shore, disappearing as quickly as they came; like silent shadows in the night, although the sun was high overhead in the blue sky, warming every life form and object it touched. He closed his eyes and breathed in the air, enjoying the calmness that the island gave him, but then there came an interruption in the pattern of the waves. A loud splashing noise that broke them, tearing them apart, causing the Peophin to open his red orbs and turn his head, facing another Peophin like him, only it was as black as the veil of darkness, and it was coming towards him, chest rising and falling like the steady beat of the waves. Finally it reached the shore, shaking its tail to get rid of the excess water that clung to it tightly. The Darigan Peophin did not know who it was; he had never seen another Peophin when he had traveled the countless days and nights swimming the ocean. The shadow Peophin approached him, not startled by his appearance.

     "Greetings, my name is Shadowstorm. Who might you be?" he asked. The red-eyed Neopet stood still for a moment, then spoke.

     "I have no name," he replied, keeping an eye on the other, for he had learned you can never be too careful if you want to live. Then his eyes caught something glistening in the sunlight, almost blinding him with its intense brightness. It was a dagger in a sheath around Shadowstorm's neck The sheath itself was intricate, but the dagger was amazing. It had a golden hilt with some brown on the edges and a ruby sat in the middle of it, surrounded by a circle of emerald. Shadowstorm chuckled.

     "I see you are eyeing my dagger. I found it washed on the shore of this island one day. It is very unusual that you don't have a name."

     "I was abandoned at the pound, but I escaped," the Darigan Peophin recited.

     "Pity," muttered Shadowstorm. "Come, let us find something to eat."

     He remembered that day well, when he had met Shadowstorm. At first he had thought he had found a true friend whom he could trust. A friend with whom he could share his worries and fears, but he also remembered he had been wrong, and he silently punished himself for doing that as he remembered when it had happened.

     The Darigan Peophin looked out across the ocean, taking in the beauty of the waves and the radiance of the sunlight, enjoying the feeling it gave him, but there was something unusual about it. It seemed that a tiny green dot was floating on them, and he narrowed his eyes in thought at what it might be. As it came closer he saw that it was a green Lupe, flailing with all his might, trying to keep above the water. The Peophin quickly dove into the ocean, swimming as fast as he could. When he reached the tired Lupe, he hoisted him onto his back and swam to the island, laying him down on the sand.

     "Are you all right?" he asked.

     "Yes, thank y--," the Lupe began to say, but let out a small gasp as he saw his rescuer. Shadowstorm came over, an evil grin on his face as he reached towards the dagger, slowly pulling it out of its leather sheath. He strode over to the Lupe, who by now was shaking with fear. Then he swung his hoof down, and nearly killed the pet, if it wasn't for the Darigan Peophin.

     "Shadowstorm, what are you doing?!" he cried. This wasn't his friend. This was a crazed Peophin who wanted to kill someone that was innocent.

     The shadow Peophin didn't answer, he only swung his weapon at the Darigan Peophin's face, causing a cut that reached from left eye to his right cheek to appear on it. He screamed out in pain, feeling a liquid rush out, staining it red. Despite the pain he flung his tail at his former friend, knocking the dagger out of his hooves , and caught it, pointing it to Shadowstorm's throat as he lay down on the shore. He only uttered one, single word with narrowed eyes.

     "Go."

     The shadow Peophin dove into the endless blue of the ocean, swimming off, but not before casting a sneer at the Darigan Peophin. The Lupe also swam off, more willing to risk swimming to another island than staying there.

     The Peophin learned that day that Shadowstorm could not be trusted. He was evil, but the Peophin also remembered the good that came out of the bad.

     The Darigan Peophin sat near his Walein, angry at himself for thinking that Shadowstorm could be trusted. He could still feel the burning pain on his face. 'I'm even more of a monster now,' he thought, kicking a pebble across the cave with his right hoof. Then he heard noises, and he sat up, wondering what they were. The Peophin cautiously crept to the entrance of his cave, peering out with his red eyes. There was a human girl with brown hair, wearing a an Ice Caves T-shirt and jeans, along with a white Lupe, Christmas Gelert, and a silver Lupe, who saw the Peophin and bounded over.

     "Hi, my name is Neiko_411, but you can call me Neiko," he barked happily.

     "I do not have a name," the Peophin answered. The Lupe cocked his head.

     "Everyone has a name. Where's you're owner?" he asked. The Peophin felt a pang of hurt, but spoke anyway.

     "I do not have an owner," he said. A grin spread across the Lupe's face.

     "You can live with us. Cougar has room for another pet." The Peophin smiled.

     As he smiled the Peophin felt a warmth overcome him. He had a family now, a home.

     "Bluestar!"

     Bluestar turned his head to see a silver Lupe bounding towards him.

     "Bluestar, come on, Cougar is making dinner." The Peophin walked over to the Lupe and the two went home.....together.

The End

Author's Note: Thanks for reading this! I would greatly appreciate any comments, but no hate mail please.