*Author's Note: Wow. It's been soooooooo long since I've updated this. I never once forgot it, I've just been super busy! My focus shifted to a Disney-themed story but I'm gonna try to catch up and finish this up now! 

AShruinger, you MAY enjoy this one actually. :) 

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January 19, 2017

I apologize for my lack of staying up to date with this, as it is actually almost April already and been two months since I last typed up a diary entry. You know I'm a damsel in distress, right? Yeah, let's just have that be my excuse. Anyway, after losing in OT to the Anaheim Ducks, we moved onto San Jose.

Yeah, this was a LOT better. (Note, my sarcasm.) San Jose was very easy-going and nothing really happened, thankfully. All that happened was that we lost and of course I met San Jose's 'Yzerchuk'.

Basically this is a short tale, but when the boys and I arrived in San Jose, I was instantly approached by two Sharks with warm smiles. I had no idea what they wanted, but one was Logan Couture and one was Tomas Hertl.

Anyway, so I'm forced to follow them, being pulled away from my friends. I think about screaming for help, but I keep my mouth shut as Logan allows Hertl to take both of my hands. Hertl's touch is gentle and comforting and not at all evil. He takes me into the SAP Center and down the hall to a private area.

There he stops and turns to me. "Vladislav Namestnikov," he says. "On behalf of the San Jose Sharks, it is my privilege to introduce you to our 'Yzerchuk'..."

I roll my eyes playfully. "Let me guess, it's a shark?"

Hertl smiles at me. "That's right! A great white shark to be exact! At least that's what Cooch says it is!"

"Kuch?" I question.

"Cooch. Couture!" Hertl chuckles.

"Oh. Awkward. But okay, I got you now. So...what is this 'Yzerchuk' of yours?"

"Jo Pawvelski, the great white shark-cat!" Hertl says with a smile. He then shoves me forward toward an ajar door.

"I'd feel a lot better if I had a teammate or two with me, Hertl. You don't understand what all I've been thr--" I begin to say, before he shuts the door behind me and locks it. I hear the click and spin around to him.

"Relax, relax," Hertl says. "JO!"

"Jo Drouin?" I question. "What have you done to Jo?" I tense up, ready for an ambush or something bad.

"Pawvelski, Bolt. Settle down," Hertl chuckles. "I promise you are okay."

Just then, I feel something brush against my leg, followed by a 'mew'. In my tense state, I freak out and jump into the air at least ten feet off the ground. Hertl laughs as Jo, a small black kitty cat, darts over to him and jumps into his arms, climbing up onto his shoulder and nuzzling against his neck. I calm my racing heart as I watch the young Czech player nuzzle the kitty back.

I blink as Jo turns to me with electrifying blue eyes. He meows again at me as though to mock my scare.

"See, Vladdy, nothing to worry about? Jo's very friendly and I've taught him to never harm any innocent player or person. Only Kings and Ducks," Hertl says. "And watch this..." He trails off as he walks over to a big tank.

Jo jumps into the tank, into the water and glows teal, before morphing into a giant shark. He swims around, before breaking the surface. Hertl reaches out like it's nothing to worry about and pats the shark on the head.

I look at my feet. I'd entrusted Yzerchuk to Kuch, just in case this was a trap. (Why did I think THIS was a GOOD idea?)

Hertl smiles at me again. "You want Yzerchuk to meet him? Where is Yzerchuk?"

"With Kuch," I sigh. God, I'm such an idiot! This is Pally's friend and not everyone is going to run me around like a damsel...why am I so stupid?

"Maybe later on they can meet. But would you like to know my favorite part of being Jo's owner?" Hertl carries on with a warm voice.

"What?"

"He trusts me. He's my best friend. When I'm feeling down or alone, who needs a girlfriend, when there's Jo." I'm still not used to there being a Jo Pawvelski and not Jo Drouin. Same Jo spelling I'm sure. "Jo's all the girl campainionship I need!"

I finally smile at him. "You're a good owner, Tomas. I'm sorry I doubted you."

"It's alright. I can understand why you'd be tense, you poor man," Hertl states, sympathetically. "Most take advantage and use their Yzerchuks for evil. You've met King, right?"

I nod.

"Well, Quick tried to catnap Jo once. As if having King wasn't enough for him...?" Hertl says, glancing at Jo and petting his head, causing the shark to purr.

"I'm sorry, Tomas. Someday, we'll be able to make it so the NHL is fair. You and I will fight side-by-side with the other good guys," I say, walking over to him and putting a hand on his shoulder as I look at him and flash him my signature Vladdy smirk.

Jo flicks his tail in the water as though in agreement, before he flings himself out at Hertl, transforming back into the black cat and landing back on his perch, on Tomas's shoulder. Jo licks the back of my hand and then looks up into my eyes.

With that, Hertl pats Jo, who scurries back off into hiding somewhere and Hertl takes me back to the door and then back to my teammates, who are on the ice. I spot Kuch skating with Yzerchuk, using him to receive a sick pass from Jo Drouin (I'm gonna give this an 'lol'), who dekes out Heddy and then I see Kuch blast a one-timer behind Vasy with my hockey stick. Easy, Kuch.

"YEAH! I EARNED COOKIE!!" Kuch shouts out as he pumps his arms into the air, still gripping onto a slightly sparking hockey stick.

"Uggggghhhh!" Heddy groans. "Palat, control the Russian child!"

"Heddy owes me cookie! Heddy owes me cookie!" Kuch sing-songs.

"Your mom owes me a cookie," Jo's voice rings out.

I chuckle and dip my head to Hertl, who dips his head back with respect. Then he vanishes from sight. 

But I still can't help but think, Where is Brayden Point? Is he even still alive?