{LUCY'S POV}
Natsu is currently explaining to the guild what happened with the man who tried to catnap me.

"I don't know who he was. All I know is I'm looking for my cat when I find some random guy trying to stuff her into a cat carrier." Natsu lights is fists on fire and pounds them together. "Next time I see him, I'm burning him to a crisp!"

"He said something about sacrificing me." I tell Levy-chan, who frowns.

Levy-chan opens her mouth to speak, but Erza beats her to the punch.

"Did you see anything that could be used to identify this criminal?" She asks.

Levy-chan looks at me. Unfortunately, I was too terrified to do much more than hiss and run away. I shake my head.

Apparently, Natsu had more luck. "Now that you mention it, when I jumped from the roof I noticed something on the bastard's neck. I think it was a guild mark!"

"What did it look like?" Mira asks, bringing out the light pen.

"Well, a cat." Natsu says, trying to remember. He describes a cat, sitting with it's nose in the air.

"That's it!" He cries when Mira finishes drawing.

"I've seen that mark before." Levy-chan searches her memory. "It's a dark guild..."

Then Levy-chan gasps. "Sekhmet's Pride!" She yells in unison with Mira.

"Who's Sekhmet?" Gray asks curiously.

Mira launches into an explanation. "She's the lion goddess of war. Sekhmet's Pride is relatively new and not that well known, but all the members are obsessed with cats. They even specialize in cat-based magic. It became a dark guild when the magic council discovered that they were doing illegal experiments on stray cats."

"Then Kira—" Natsu growls.

"They probably wanted her as a test subject." Mira says. Everyone looks horrified by the idea.

I shudder, remembering him looking down on me with greedy eyes. I'm relieved that I didn't use my magic now.

"If Sekhmet's Pride is in town, we need to be extra careful." Levy-chan meows. "From now on, no going anywhere without Gajeel, Gray, or Natsu."

"Juvia intended to stay by Gray-sama's side anyway." Juvia is intent on becoming an article of clothing. She's clinging to Gray's bare back like a backpack.

Based on how he's wincing, she's using her claws to stay firmly attached.

"Juvia..." Levy-chan and I shake our heads. Did we expect any different?

Natsu scoops me up. "Don't worry Kira, I'm not going to let those guys hurt you."

"Don't jinx it." I lick his chin.

Gajeel grabs Levy-chan and sets her on his head. "Let's go home, Mini. I don't like the idea of you outside, exposed to danger."

"Oh Gajeel." Levy-chan purrs contently. She pads around in a circle on Gajeel's head, getting comfortable, then lays down.

"Ame, ow! Watch the claws! Wouldn't you rather be in my arms?" Gray asks.

Instantaneously, Juvia propels herself into the cradle Gray creates with his hands and begins her best chainsaw impersonation.

"You have to protect them, boys." Mira warns gravely. "Be careful, and don't let them out of your sight for a second."

Natsu, Gajeel, and Gray nod. Natsu's grip on my tiny furry body tightens.

Natsu takes me back to my apartment. Why do I bother? He essentially lives here now. Happy finds us sprawled out on my bed, Natsu on his belly with his face buried in my pillow.

"Any sign of her?" Happy's referring to me.

"Nothing!" Natsu groans. "And now there's a new dark guild making trouble around town so I have to worry about Kira too. You'll stay far out of their reach, won't you little buddy?"

"Aye sir! They won't catch me!" Happy grins, which perks Natsu up a little bit.

He deflates quickly. I weasel my way under his arm, partially to rub off some of my snuggly feline charm to make him feel better, and partially because I enjoy Natsu's body heat.

This cat gig is making me spoiled rotten.

{LEVY'S POV}
A girl could get used to this. Gajeel is giving me a nice, stress-relieving pet down.

"Behind the ears more!" I demand, but Gajeel continues to smooth the fur on my flanks.

This whole situation with Sekhmet's Pride is concerning but I've determined that there's nothing else I can do about it tonight.

"Do you think Shrimp left because she doesn't like me?" Gajeel asks.

I jump to my paws. "Excuse me? I've dropped so many hints over the years. I swear, you male dragon slayers are denser than lead!"

Of course, Gajeel doesn't understand my enraged outburst. He doesn't speak cat.

"I know she hates my nickname for her. But it totally suits her."

Now I'm indignant for a different reason. "Just call me by my name!"

"But to suddenly start calling her Levy would just be... embarrassing." Gajeel finishes, and there's a pink tint to his ears.

The fur on my cheeks better cover up this blush!

I curl up on the pillows next to Gajeel's face. He reaches up absent-mindedly and strokes my fur as he drifts unconscious.