Chapter 5
No one noticed the red Eyrie that landed in the middle of Main Street. Tak glanced around, prepared for the many Neopets and humans that strolled about - but not for the many things different. It was not at all as she had expected - there were no soft, fluffy clouds to float upon, no magic-tinged breeze to whisk her feathers about. But it was vivid! Everything seemed to revolve around the huge green growing place she was in, humans and pets any given direction. Shops were sprinkled through the place, empty one second, then restocking and being emptied in a mind-bogglingly quick fashion. An enormous pool, many pets crowded about it, was a bit to her left, a rainbow sprouting down from the heavens into the water. In front of her, a gigantic tree, with a kind face - this was a surprise for her, all living trees in the Haunted Woods appeared ugly and frightening - smiled down on the pets and owners that flocked to it, handing out items, food, and money.
Shaking herself, Taciturnitas placed one paw over the necklace given her by Syphin. It was warm. She sighed. Well, I guess I'd better get to work finding an owner. . . she thought, removing her paw and trotting towards a collection of apartments towards the south.
A few hours later, the Eyrie was hopelessly lost. She had wandered the back alleys for what seemed an eternity, and whenever she approached what looked to be a perfect fit, she discovered they already had as many pets as they wanted, or that nobody was home.
Thoroughly disheartened, the telepathic creature curled up by a garbage can, wings folding over her body, trying to make herself unnoticeable - which was rather difficult, as she was of a vibrant red pelt. Clacking her beak, she gazed out into the street.
The sound of a car -she had heard that word from listening in on a few conversations, having never been taught it was inappropriate, despite Syphin's training- caught her ears' attention, and they perked instinctively. It grew louder, and Tak lifted her head. A large white car, driven by a rather grumpy-looking old Techo, was charging her way. She shrank down against the garbage can, watching.
The car roared past her, then it came to a sudden stop, and went into reverse, coming towards her. The Techo glared out at her. "Hey you! You got an owner?"
~Err. . .no. . .~
As she directed her thoughts to his mind, his eyes grew wide. "What the - that you?!"
~Yes.~
"Huh. . ." muttered the Techo, leaning out the window. "Well, you don't have an owner. Get in the car."
~What?!~
"Get in the car, dimwit. No owner means you go to the pound. Can't have every single discarded pet in Neopia wanderin' around the city."
~Sir, I don't think you understand. I-~
"I think you don't understand! I don't care what Cybunny-brained excuse you got, no owner equals pound!"
Tak was becoming annoyed now. No senseless old Techo was going to tell her to go against the word of the Faerie Queen herself. ~I don't want to have to fight you.~
The Techo raised an eyebrow. "Eh?"
~I've been told by the Faerie Queen herself to find an owner. She didn't say anything about a pound.~
"I've heard that one before! You can't fool-"
~Are you going to let me go or are you going to fight me?!~
The Techo was taken aback by Taciturnitas's fierce sendings. "Uh. . ." he muttered, noticing for the first time the dagger and sling tucked into the strange red Eyrie's black belt. The pendent around her neck was glowing red. "Uh. . .I need to. . .go. . .patrol Main Street. I'll deal with you later, bird!" The big white truck's window rolled up, and it roared off. That was easy, thought Tak.
No one noticed the red Eyrie that landed in the middle of Main Street. Tak glanced around, prepared for the many Neopets and humans that strolled about - but not for the many things different. It was not at all as she had expected - there were no soft, fluffy clouds to float upon, no magic-tinged breeze to whisk her feathers about. But it was vivid! Everything seemed to revolve around the huge green growing place she was in, humans and pets any given direction. Shops were sprinkled through the place, empty one second, then restocking and being emptied in a mind-bogglingly quick fashion. An enormous pool, many pets crowded about it, was a bit to her left, a rainbow sprouting down from the heavens into the water. In front of her, a gigantic tree, with a kind face - this was a surprise for her, all living trees in the Haunted Woods appeared ugly and frightening - smiled down on the pets and owners that flocked to it, handing out items, food, and money.
Shaking herself, Taciturnitas placed one paw over the necklace given her by Syphin. It was warm. She sighed. Well, I guess I'd better get to work finding an owner. . . she thought, removing her paw and trotting towards a collection of apartments towards the south.
A few hours later, the Eyrie was hopelessly lost. She had wandered the back alleys for what seemed an eternity, and whenever she approached what looked to be a perfect fit, she discovered they already had as many pets as they wanted, or that nobody was home.
Thoroughly disheartened, the telepathic creature curled up by a garbage can, wings folding over her body, trying to make herself unnoticeable - which was rather difficult, as she was of a vibrant red pelt. Clacking her beak, she gazed out into the street.
The sound of a car -she had heard that word from listening in on a few conversations, having never been taught it was inappropriate, despite Syphin's training- caught her ears' attention, and they perked instinctively. It grew louder, and Tak lifted her head. A large white car, driven by a rather grumpy-looking old Techo, was charging her way. She shrank down against the garbage can, watching.
The car roared past her, then it came to a sudden stop, and went into reverse, coming towards her. The Techo glared out at her. "Hey you! You got an owner?"
~Err. . .no. . .~
As she directed her thoughts to his mind, his eyes grew wide. "What the - that you?!"
~Yes.~
"Huh. . ." muttered the Techo, leaning out the window. "Well, you don't have an owner. Get in the car."
~What?!~
"Get in the car, dimwit. No owner means you go to the pound. Can't have every single discarded pet in Neopia wanderin' around the city."
~Sir, I don't think you understand. I-~
"I think you don't understand! I don't care what Cybunny-brained excuse you got, no owner equals pound!"
Tak was becoming annoyed now. No senseless old Techo was going to tell her to go against the word of the Faerie Queen herself. ~I don't want to have to fight you.~
The Techo raised an eyebrow. "Eh?"
~I've been told by the Faerie Queen herself to find an owner. She didn't say anything about a pound.~
"I've heard that one before! You can't fool-"
~Are you going to let me go or are you going to fight me?!~
The Techo was taken aback by Taciturnitas's fierce sendings. "Uh. . ." he muttered, noticing for the first time the dagger and sling tucked into the strange red Eyrie's black belt. The pendent around her neck was glowing red. "Uh. . .I need to. . .go. . .patrol Main Street. I'll deal with you later, bird!" The big white truck's window rolled up, and it roared off. That was easy, thought Tak.