It was only after a few minutes of trekking through the muck that he noticed, with an unpleasant shock, a dim prick of light drifting in the air at his shoulder. He nearly fell over backwards in surprise, letting his bag fall with a loud clatter of devilpuss food, almost gummy rats and assorted grooming products,
"What the–?" he began, but two small hands clamped themselves over his beak,
"Shh, shh – There's no need to be frightened!" a tiny, laughing voice came, and he realized that he was dealing with a faerie – a light faerie, in the Haunted Woods? Before he had time to think about this, however, the voice spoke again:
"Greetings, oh blessed pet, I come to bring great news!" the faerie twittered, releasing his beak and hovering just in front of his face, "You have, on this day, been chosen by Fyora herself for a most perilous and exiting quest!" the faerie motioned to a small blue orb clutched tightly in her tiny hand,
"No, thanks," said Qisat, eying the orb warily, which was glowing dull blue and hummed softly. The faerie waved it persistently in front of his beak,
"I don't think you understand; this is one of the most powerful objects in all of Neopia! Fyora herself has enlisted me and five of my comrades to seek out those who are worthiest of holding these ancient artifacts–!"
"I said no, thanks," insisted the lenny and turned to leave. The faerie followed crossly, her soft golden aura shot with angry red,
"The fate of Neopia rests in this orb! We could all die if you don't take it!"
"I don't want your bloody rock!"
"You-are-the-chosen-one-you-narcissistic-idiot!" the faerie huffed and stomped her foot in mid-air, all pretense of sugary-sweetness forgotten, "You have to take it!"
"No!"
"Take it!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
This went on for several more minutes, each participant growing progressively louder and angrier until the faerie finally chucked the glowing orb at Qisat's head and flitted off stormily.