Finding Cat

HELLO! This is my first story on fanfiction, so I'm just happy I'm submitting. Read and Review!

"WOOHOOO!" yelled Kitterboy. Soaked through his Christmas Kougra fur, he bravely navigated the wild wave. He flipped his board to the top, a crazy grin on his face as he caught air. Landing perfectly, he pulled out from the wave and coasted to shore before it crested.

"YEAH! This is how we DO it!" he exclaimed, punching a paw into the air. He jumped off his board into the sand. The magical tracker on his wrist beeped. His owner was on the move. Frowning at it, he glanced at the ocean, beckoning him with its warm tropical waters and tall waves. The tracker beeped again, the little silver bracelet more insistent.

"Fine, fine." Kitterboy grumbled. He jogged up the sand with his board, making for the Tombola booth. He saw his Owner, Cat, walking away from it, headed for the Island Mystic. Shaking water from his hair, he caught up behind her.

"Pretty early for you to be up, huh? Bet you're tired." He laughed, elbowing her in the side. She gave no response, eyes staring blankly ahead, focused on her goal.

"…So, great waves today. I was wondering if we could stay at the beach?"

No response.

Kitterboy's smile faltered, but he tried again.

So if we're not going back, can I put my board in the inventory?"

Wordlessly, Cat handed him the brown bag, bigger on the inside than outside, her pace never changing. Kitterboy slipped his surfboard inside.

"Thanks Cat." He said, his smile finally slipping from his face. Ears drooping, he handed it back. He kicked a stray unlabeled can in frustration.

They sloshed through the narrow strip of water between Mystery Island and the Mystic. The old Kyrii smiled at Cat. "Back again are you? Well, don't think you can steal my ball again!" he said jokingly, wagging a finger in her face. When she gave no sign she had heard him, his face fell. "Another one…" he sighed. Waving his paws importantly, he declared "Your sense of direction will change dramatically. Remember to come back tomorrow." Turning to Kitterboy, the Mystic asked, "How long has she been like this, kid?"

"A couple weeks." Kitterboy told him, his ears drooping further.

The Mystic shook his head sadly, looking at Cat's rigid figure. "A shame, that. I thought she'd be one of the ones who made it…the ARGUMENTS we had, my goodness." He chuckled, and then sighed again.

Kitterboy shoved his paws into his swimtrunk pockets. "Why do they do this? One day they're here, the next, THAT." Kitterboy gestured helplessly at the frozen Cat.

The Island Mystic peered at him, sadness filling his normally cheerful eyes. "As an Owner gets older, they start thinking too much. When they start thinking too much, they believe less with their heart. Their heart is what is in Neopia, so we see less of them."

"Is there some way I can save her?" pleaded Kitterboy, "I can't stand seeing her FADE like this."

"She your first Owner, kid?" the Mystic asked. When Kitterboy nodded, the old Kyrii rubbed a paw over his face, blustering. "I remember my first Owner. My only Owner, actually. She held on longer than most, but like all the others she faded and then, one day, left. The Neopets Team took pity on me and gave me a job, but…" he trailed off.

"Can you help her?" Kitterboy asked.

The Island Mystic looked up at the youth's desperate eyes, deep in thought. All three were frozen, one gone some strange place, one waiting with bated breath, one lost in memories. The Mystic finally stirred at a beeping noise. Cat had started walking again, and Kitterboy's tracker was beeping.

"Please, sir," Kitterboy begged, "Before she leaves."

"Alright, listen."

"THANK YOU-"

"I said listen! I can't help you. I don't have nearly enough magic for that, you need a faerie, or a witch. Since she's not here, she must be somewhere else. You need to find her."

Kitterboy nodded and squeaked a "Thanks!" he started running to Cat, who was walking to the dock; almost out of the tracker's range.

"HEY!"

Without stopping, Kitterboy looked behind him.

The Island Mystic raised a paw. "GOOD LUCK KID!" he bellowed.