Mary quickly retrieved her belongings from the rock and with a shudder glanced down at the swirling water and the horrors hidden below. Ava was down there, but how many others as well? She grabbed up the mostly dry Ava-cat and tucked her close as she made her way back up the trail to her bike. The sun had set and Mary carefully stayed to the right of the road as she pedaled frantically home. She felt as if she were being watched by a malovent force. "It had to be a demon, it had horns and wings. It was intelligent and it was able to manipulate itself and trick me into its trap. But why?"

Ava stared at her her slitted cats eyes glittering. "Meowwww " she replied plaintively.

"So you still understand me?" Mary panted as she pedaled.

"Maw." Ava chirped.

"Well now we have to figure out how to get you back into your body. But first we have to get rid of a demon. I cant even get rid of ghosts! Well not permanently anyway." She mattered.

Ava purred and snuggled into her coat.

Mary arrived home, still damp and shivering. She stowed her bike in the shed then snuck around to the kitchen door. She let herself in and peering around the arched doorway saw her parents watching television in the living room. Quickly she crept across the opening and up the stairs. She had memorized the creaky stairs but tripped over a basket of laundry and slammed down upon her hands and knees.

"Mary honey, is that you?" Her dad called as he poked his head around the archway.

"Yup it's just me." Mary replied, getting to her feet. "Mom is trying to kill me."

"Shes been torturing me to death for eighteen years." Her dad deadpanned.

Mary smiled then bent to grab the spilled laundry. Ava lost her grip within her jacket and fell out landing in a heap at her feet. The cat stared at her dad, her dad stared at the cat. Mary stated at the ceiling, trying to find an explanation. "Uhm... can I keep her?" She asked hopefully.

Her dad looked at the soggy black cat, and then his teenage daughter. Then he sneezed. "Oh honey I'm not sure that would be the best idea." He watched as her smile died on her lips and he realized how young she was and how innocent. He was suddenly thankful she was sneaking in a cat and not a boyfriend. "She can stay on a trail period." He relented gruffly.

"Thank you Daddy, thank you!" She cried jovially, launching herself into his arms for a rare hug.

The cat not to be outdone "Meww" and rubbed against his legs purring loudly.
.
Emelia poked her head out of the wall loudly "tsking" her dissaproval "cats are dirty creatures and belong outside!"

Mary shot her a dirty look over her father's shoulder.

Emelia shrugged then asked hopefully. "At least tell me shes a  good mouser?"

Ava sniffed distainfully in response, and Mary's father laughed delightedly as he scooped her up. "Sounds like shes as allergic to me as I am to her!