Once, a long time ago, deep in Neopia Central, lived a small pack of Lupes. The pack consisted of a fire alpha male, a cloud alpha female, a desert beta and a Christmas beta female. The four Lupes were especially excited tonight because the alpha female, StarryStarryNight (Starry for short) was about to have her first pup. Out came an adorable green Lupe puppy. He already had a fiery temper, that's why they named him Dragon. The whole pack was thrilled. The larger, Meridell pack was also enjoying themselves, even though they were sworn enemies. The celebrating from the Meridell pack was because they had a young female blue Lupe. She was named Saphire. Both Lupe packs celebrated all night bragging to each other using howls.

A few months later, after the pups were older, Dragon crawled out of the den. As soon as he saw the bright sunrise he turned around and ran back into the den.

"Dad, come on, play with me! Sun's up!" said the little Lupe pup, while tugging on his father's ear.

"It's too early, how about you go play by yourself?" yawned Tundra, (BurningTundra) half asleep.

Dragon then bounded out the entrance of the cave. As he did so, his father called out, "Just don't go into Meridell!"

"I wonder what's out in Meridell that's so bad that I can't go there? Well I'm gonna go check it out!" said Dragon as he got a determined look on his puppy face and started walking in the direction of Meridell. By about noon he was at the bridge that separated Neopia Central and Meridell. Dragon slowly walked over the bridge. By the time he got to the other end he was so fascinated by this new world, he didn't even look where he was going. He tripped and fell at the feet of a blue Lupe about his age. She was beautiful! She had a sparkling blue coat, gorgeous yellow eyes and a small Anubius puppy.

"Wh, who are you? And where did you come from?" she asked, terrified of the Lupe that fell from the sky.

"I'm Dragon, son of BurningTundra, and I'll teach you to pay proper respect!" he said, trying to show off to her. "Tag, you're it!" Dragon yelled as he started a game.

"Tag, you're it Snickers!" she said tagging the Anubius. The three of them spent all day playing.

Late that night, Dragon asked the blue Lupe a question that had been on his mind all day. "Hey, I don't think I ever got your name." Dragon panted heavily.

"My name's Saphire. Do you want to come over to my pack for dinner?" Saphire asked, also panting. Snickers barked happily.

"Sure, let's go!" he said. As the two Lupes and the Anubius reached her pack's den, a deafening roar came out of it. Dragon stopped dead in his tracks.

"What's wrong, that's just my dad. Come on!" said Saphire, then she howled to her pack saying she had a guest. With that, Dancer (RoboDancer) leapt out of the den. He was a towering, well oiled robot Lupe. He was also Saphire's father. He growled, then sniffed at Dragon. He then growled again, looking at nothing but Dragon. Dragon, scared, bowed down to him. Instead of accepting this Lupe ritual of allegiance, Dancer leapt at Dragon bearing his teeth.

"Daddy what are you doing?" Saphire screamed.

Just then, BurningTundra jumped out of the bushes at Dancer. Dancer quickly shifted his attention to the fire Lupe. They started a small fight, Tundra was only defending himself and his son. Eventually Tundra and Dragon escaped back to Neopia Central, while both pups whispered goodbye.

Later that night, when Tundra and Dragon were safely back on then Neopia Central side, they had a little talk.

"Dragon, I told you not to go into Meridell, and now you see the reason! RoboDancer will kill any Neopia Central Lupe in his territory! Now be carefully, I don't want to lose you." Tundra said in a very worried tone.

"I'm sorry dad. Now I know better." Dragon whimpered.

"Alright." Tundra said as he walked away. Just then, Tundra felt something land on his back. It was the same size as a Lupe puppy. Then Dragon and Tundra jumped into play. After they were done, they stood up to go home. As soon as they did, everything around them turned black. It was like a forest had sprouted up around them and they were standing in the patch of moonlight.

Tundra sniffed. Dragon sniffed. Tundra glared. Dragon glared. Tundra growled. Dragon growled. Eyes appeared. Dragon cringed. A giant Mutant Gurundo hand reached out of the darkness and reached towards Tundra. He easily jumped over it. Then about ten more grabbed for him and Dragon. They easily caught Dragon and Tundra stopped to help his son. Bad idea. He was grabbed by another Gurundo. After that, they were teleported to a space ship. Then they were shoved in cages. Tundra howled. He got a response from everyone in the pack but the Beta. Just then a creepy green face appeared.

"Take the fire Lupe to the potion room. He'll make a nice test subject. He looks pretty strong, that's good." said the ugly Gurundo like creature. A second later, the once proud BurningTundra was bound and being carried away. Both Dragon and Tundra were too scared to say anything. Dragon, lonely and terrified, curled up in a corner of his cage, then he cried himself to sleep.

Late that night, Dragon awoke to the ugly man saying something.

"Well, that one didn't work. Oh-well, we still have three more Lupes to work with. Bring me the little green one." he proclaimed. Then, Dragon looked out of his cage to see a Gurundo pushing an operating table with a sheet on it down the hall. Dragon saw a limp yellow paw with big claws and a purple streak fall down from the table. Dragon was now even more terrified. He was sure that was his father. In fact, he was positive. He smelled it.

He howled and cried and howled some more as he was carried off to what he was sure to be his death. Soon after that, he was fed a nasty tasting purple potion and felt sick. All of a sudden, he started mutating! Soon he was purple with a skull over his face and he had giant claws. He didn't know it, but he was the first mutant Lupe. He was so scared at his appearance he ran. He accidentally ran into the teleporter and he was back at the den as fast as he could blink.

Author's Note/AN: You don't think that's all for little Dragon do you? Not a chance! This is part one of a huge continuing series. Keep checking!