Disclaimer:I do not own Neopets or Neopets: The Darkest Faerie characters... I wish I did... but sadly I do not...

Chapter 3

Surviving the changes

Tor surfaced a few minutes after hitting the water, gasping for air as he coughed a couple times. He could see Solarin a couple hundred feet away searching the water with Roberta on his back.

" Good she's okay." Tor thought

The yellow Lupe tried to call for the white Uni but he could hardly keep his head above water, he tried his best but the current was too strong for him. As he surfaced again he could hear a loud sound from behind him, but he couldn't quite hear what it was due to the water in his ears.

His body turned around due to a boulder greeting him, he could see what he had heard! It was a waterfall! The Lupe's eyes filled with fright as his feet dug into the riverbed, but he could not get a good grip. The Lupe saw another boulder so he quickly grabbed hold of it, the water still flowing against him made it hard for the knight to keep a good grip of the slippery boulder.

He looked up, he grew worried as he could no longer see any sign of Solarin or Roberta, he sighed to himself he had to get out and get dry before night fell by himself. The yellow Lupe could see a thick tree branch a few feet away from him, so the Lupe dug his armored feet into the riverbed as best he could. He slowly guided himself over to the tree branch grabbing a tight hold of it, Tor pulled himself over to the land that laid a few feet away.

Sitting down, completely soaked Tor caught his breath after a near-death experience, he sighed again he had to get a warm fire going to warm up and dry off.

Elsewhere...

Roberta had her faithful Uni land safely in the middle of a forest, she got off his back and sat down on the ground. Solarin laid down next to the blue Acara, he looked at her with his bright eyes.

" This is all my fault, I should have lost that minion easily." Roberta stated

The Uni snorted and shook his head, Roberta patted the Uni on the head.

" I don't know if we'll ever find Tor, the falls are near-by you know." Roberta said

The white Uni nudged Roberta's shoulder, swishing his tail and nipped at her ear.

" I know he's strong, but he could be anywhere, even beyond the falls." Roberta replied

The Uni snorted again, Roberta only gave a very slight smile at his action.

" I know I'm as stubborn as my mother." Roberta replied
Deciding to end the argument Roberta got up and started collecting wood, Solarin got up onto his four hooves and helped find wood. Though Tor and Roberta were separated Solarin knew that Roberta needed his help.

After starting a good fire Solarin, left Roberta and went over to the river, he watched the water flow by for a moment then splashed his hoof into the water sending three fish onto the ground behind him.

" Good boy Solarin." Roberta praised patting Solarin's side

A few hours passed, Roberta looked up at the darkening sky, she could see stars appear one-by-one she sighed to herself. She saw Solarin pulled a big leaf off a tree and put it on the ground then pulling down another one. She knew that Solarin was very smart, she gave him quite a bit of credit, after all he was pulling down leaves with his mouth as he un-steadily stood on his hind legs.

Roberta smiled as Solarin returned to his fours, the Acara patted the Uni's side as she sat down. She looked to the sky again, more stars were appearing, she sighed.

" I hope Tor's okay." she thought

The young Acara laid down closing her eyes, Solarin pulled the leaves over her then laying down right next to her.

Back with Tor...

Now dry, Tor was laying next to the warm fire he built, he was able to find some big leaves he could use. The Lupe laid on his back staring at the dark sky watching the stars, he sighed he felt so alone without Roberta with him.

Tor rolled over to side, his sword shimmered in the light of the fire, his shield right next to it. Tor closed his eyes falling into a deep sleep, the only sounds his un-clogged ears heard were the crackle of the fire and the rushing water of the river.

The night was peaceful, the sky now held many stars as a gentle breeze moved the leaves of the trees and the green grass, the gentle rush of the river water over the boulders and the sounds of wild Lupes howling at the moon made the night even more peaceful,

Morning came a while later with sunlight finding its way over the horizon and bouncing off Tor's golden armor. The Lupe awoke and stretched, Tor looked around for a moment until his yellow eyes adjusted to the light.

He could see a pack of wild Lupes moving through the forest, he smiled as a blue Lupe playfully nipped at a red one. A white Lupe spotted Tor and as he stood on his four paws staring with his yellow eyes. Tor gave a smile that assured he was not there to harm anyone or anything, the white Lupe gave a smile knowing that Tor was friendly but even Tor had a wild side.

The wild Lupe lifted his head and let out a shrill howl, sending shivers down Tor's spine. The yellow Lupe knight could not help himself but let out a long howl, the white Lupe smiled as he moved on.

With Solarin and Roberta..

Roberta poured some water over the fire putting it out, she sighed, she had to find Tor before anything happened to her or Tor. She was about to get onto Solarin's back when she heard a shrill howl, she shrugged knowing it was only a wild Lupe howling. But another more full howl caught her attention, it had a certain note to it that she recognized.

" Come on Solarin." Roberta stated

As soon as Roberta got onto his back Solarin took off, the Uni could hear the howl, but it was ending. He flapped harder as he turned around a tree, but once he did he did not hear anything but the river. The Uni looked around as did Roberta, a glimmer caught Roberta's eyes, she guided Solarin in the direction of the glimmer.

Solarin landed a good two miles from where they took off, Roberta looked around seeing nothing. She didn't give up she knew that she didn't just imagine it. She then pushed back some bushes seeing someone picking up a shield, it was a golden shield, it was Tor!

" Tor!" Roberta yelled as she hugged the Lupe

The yellow Lupe returned the hug fully, she let out a content sigh, he could hear Solarin snicker.

" How did you find me?" Tor asked

" I could hear a howl that I somehow recognized, I somehow knew it was you." Roberta replied

" You were right." Tor stated with a slight blush

" I'm glad that you didn't go over the falls." Roberta said tears stinging her eyes

Tor gave a smile " I almost did to be honest, but I used the experience I had from the other adventures I had with you to get myself out of that river."

" I'm so glad you're okay." Roberta said

" I'm mostly glad that you're okay Roberta." Tor replied

" Why's that?" Roberta asked

" I gave your uncle my word, knights always keep their word I'm not going to go against it. Plus if you got hurt I wouldn't forgive myself." Tor replied

Roberta blushed as Solarin came up behind her, Tor smiled at the young Acara's reaction.

" We better go, we have Neopia to save." Robert said

" Right behind you." Tor replied

The two heroes got onto Solarin's back, the white Uni took off into the blue sky, the Lupe pack looked in amazement as they saw the Uni flying overhead. The white Lupe smiled, he knew that the world would be safe with the two heroes on the case.