The Love of Humanity
For the record, I DO NOT own Neopets or anything that is otherwise stated. The characters, however, especially Gary, who comes in later, is mine. He's just a little closer 'cuz his accent/dialect is just like mine. So... here you go. Enjoy third person!
Chapter 1: Ambushed
The Neopian forests always had a sort of mystical air about them... maybe that's only because they were in a magical world, but who am I to say? And it was this air that constantly stirred him throughout the night, forcing him from somewhat restful sleep. Some Neopets, he knew, were capable of seeing trouble or good fortune on the horizon, and he was well aware he wasn't one of them. Still, he couldn't shake a feeling, a feeling which he couldn't quite describe. Something good? Something bad? In between? The Gelert couldn't tell.
All he knew was that his coarse, light green fur was slightly dampened with morning's dew, and that what little sunlight penetrated the forest's thick canopy of leaves was trying to warm it and bring it back to the air. Allowing a heavy paw to cover his eyes, he groaned; not much sleep had been acquired. He continued to lay there a while, not even bothering to remove his paw from his view. He just laid there, listening to the soft breathing of the others around him. The two young Lupes slept close to each other, brothers intent on not being seperated. The loud-mouthed Kougra, who was apparently so even in his deep state of slumber, snored loudly as he rested. The tiny Aisha was fast asleep next to him, her small body bringing warmth to make up for the cold air that filled the morning. Content, he sighed with pleasure. Morning or not, he could still rest...
His long ears perked at the sudden sound of movement nearby reached him. He finally moved his paw, dark brown eyes briefly scanning the sleeping Neopets. The Kougra was on his side, a paw placed over his tiger-ish face, his sides slowly moving at his loud breaths. The Lupes, of course, were huddled close, the older silver one's tail trying to cover the younger yellow one's hindpaws in an effort to keep them warm. Lifting his head to look around better, the Gelert's eyes moved to the small cat at his own side, her light blue fur standing out against his green. He sighed again, this time with a little anxiety. No such thing as rest.
His tail whipped out behind him when another sound came, and this time he slowly and carefully stood, making sure to let the others rest without him knowing. It had long been decided before that no one would ever go anywhere alone, but he wasn't going to wake them if it was just some mischievious Doglefox or something. No, if it was something worth running from alone, he would, and come back with strength behind him.
Carefully padding out through the foilage and away from the makeshift 'family' that he had grown accustomed to, he felt a chill; this one was not of the morning's air, as were others. No, this one was a bad feeling. His instincts were telling him this was a bad idea. What wasn't, nowadays?
He was beginning to wander farther away from them, and was starting to wonder if this was such a grand idea himself. His ears were perked to take in every sound and every word spoken in the forest; that, however, wasn't quite enough to warn him of the danger ahead.
Yelping, the Gelert found himself foced against a rock with powerful, rock-like claws pinning him to it. Another claw was fiddling with something around his neck, the metal chain that served as a holder for the gold pendant in the center. An ancestral item, the last he'd been able to salvage before he left home. His body stiffined when he heard the dark, canniving cackle that followed, and his face stung as a claw or three slashed across his face.
"Well, if it isn't 'his Majesty' out for a stroll!" the taunting voice sneered, as he began to see the creature holding him. Two spirit-like claws held him to the rock, the beast's natural, granite-coloured claws resting on the stone itself and ready to attack. The wolf-like being's face was directly before his, the Lupe's cold stone-grey eyes staring intently at him. A long, rat-like tail squirmed behind the black creature, the rest of his body decked in metal armour. The helm over his head hid his true face, black sabre fangs hanging over the upper jaws. Very little of its skin was bared, and what was revealed was carefully protected by spines or claws. The ridge of his spine, covered in a neat little row of bony spikes, seemed to shiver with his laughter.
The Gelert tried to keep his gaze away as the Lupe began speaking again. "Do you not recognize me, 'your Majesty'? Your old friend Cerberu, of all to forget!"
Growling, he tried to free himself, struggling against the beast Cerberu's grasp, but was merely heckled and held tighter. "Let me see if I recall you, dear Sir," the Lupe snarled, looking off to appear thoughtful. "The vagabond renegade William Camp, known to his accomplices and acquaintances simply as Will. The traitorous and vile criminal that stole his brother Henry's throne, which the true king is now avenging. Do you, dear William, recall my business?"
Will tried to free himself once more, but was met again with a powerful claw, this time on his chest. "Let me refresh your simple memory," Cerberu stated, grinning darkly. "I kill whatever I am requested to kill, with a price. Do you know how high a price I have been offered?" After an answerless pause, he went on. "Second in command over the kingdom that you stole. Now isn't that a lovely gift for such a mundane favour?"
"Let me go, Cerberu," he growled, heckled once more as he was released from the stone. He fell to the ground, muscles aching from being held so tightly and so vigourously. Shortly after finally gathering enough strength to stand, the thick rat tail of Cerberu made contact with his side, and Will fell once more. He coughed, the breath knocked out of his lungs. Again he was whacked with the tail, with enough force to roll the rather large Gelert onto the other side. He winced when his already hurting side made contact with a few stones, pressing deeply into his skin.
"You put up a poor fight, dear William," Cerberu mocked. "I am beginning to wonder why it takes so long for your superiour to find you and kill you. You aren't worth the effort, it seems."
Again gathering strength, Will quickly leaped to his feet, attacking the monster's tail with open jaws. Though he thought it sickening to find the creature's tail in his mouth, he clamped down tightly, trying to withstand the shaking and thrashing the pained creature began. His eyes widened, as did his jaws, when he noticed Cerberu's head turning toward his, the rows of yellowed, reddened fangs behind the sabres plainly visible. With quick reflexes, Cerberu followed him, clamping down on Will's own tail. He barked in pain, before being tossed back into the same rock, this time held by both the spirit claws and the physical ones.
Cerberu was breathing deeply; not from fatigue, but from anger and frustration. With a furious snarl, he hit Will away from the rock, pummeling him a little more to relieve stress. Not quite dead, but not very alive, the Gelert winced with every breath, and cringed with every reflexive movement. Blood stained his fur, dirt matting it in places. He shut his eyes as the shadow of the beast came upon him, sides heaving in anticipation of a final breath.
"You are not even worth it," the creature growled, spitting coldly on Will's side. The acid-like saliva stung him slightly, and landing in a part of a cut didn't help either. The spirit claw appeared again from Cerberu's right side, this time holding a sinister-looking vial. "Specially made for you, dear William. A lovely toxin, 'tis. If the poison doesn't kill you, well..." A light smirk appeared beneath the helm, and Will caught the scent of a few more Lupes arriving in the area, the most prominent coming to mind instantly.
"Jurindi," he mumbled, not even opening his eyes. He whimpered as a smaller, but still powerful, paw struck him in the side, and a cruel laugh resounded from a different direction.
"Give it to him, Cerberu," the aging commander ordered, placing a paw on Will's neck. "We will be doing this poor thing a favour, it seems. Besides, I know just the place to dispose of the body." Will felt the stare of the Lupes, and practically heard their smug snickers.
With a great surge of pain, his muzzle was held open, and a vile liquid fell inside. Forced to swallow, he coughed, spat, and dry-heaved, before more excruciating pain ran through him. Finally opening his eyes, he stared at his injured forepaws, which were moving about in an odd way, as if the very bones inside them were changing. He howled with pain as it continued through him, feeling his hind legs and spine lengthen, though the latter shortened a little as well. Eventually he fell numb, and then unconcious.
Erilis: Woo! Rewrite's first chapter is up at last! Yeah, I know, it's starting off a little differently than the original did, but hopefully it flows better and sounds way better, too. How y'all likin' third person? -smiles-
Diego: ... Hi everyone. Sorry she hasn't gotten to Romeo and Juliet in a while. She'll do that later. She promises. Oh, read and review, too.