Nicole did not win.

Most of the game was a matter of not eating the cookies, which grew hard when both Jessie and I were going for them. Also when Barry kept using his Gift to cheat.

Afterwards, the visitors went home and a few weeks went by without any interesting occurrences.

I leapt off another rock until I reached the top of the waterfall, staring down at Barry below.

"You know, cats don't like water!" He shouted from where he floated in the water.

I let out a roar before jumping off from where I stood. I fell through the air for what seemed like forever, the air ruffling through my fur. I took in a deep breath as I neared the surface of the rippling pond.

When I hit the water it stung me by the sheer coldness of it. I dove down in the water and tried to reach the bottom.

But something behind me came up and grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and pulled me out of the water.

"Chloe you okay?" Barry asked frantically as my head bobbed above the water I bared my teeth at him with a hiss as Barry stared back as a lion, his name nearly covering his eyes.

Lately, our bonding gift was sharing our abilities, although I wasn't getting anything from Barry. I was not enjoying it very much.

I swam out of the water and stretched myself out with a yawn on the shoreline. We had visited the quiet haven we had found so long ago. I stared at the koi that were swimming lazily around the water, and I bared my teeth at them.

Barry walked out of the water and shook himself out, spraying water all over me.

"Watch it!"

"Does the panther not want to get wet? Strange, I could swear that you just walked out of a pond." He retorted.

I closed my eyes and began to relax as I listened to the sound of the water.

Barry padded up to me and sat down leaning against my side. I got up and leaped into the branches of a tree and relaxed once more. I looked down to find that Barry had collapsed without me to support him, and was struggling at getting up. I guess there were a few things he had not learned to do while being an animal.

I watched him struggle before shifting back and staring up at me.

"Being a panther is giving you some attitude."

I swished my tail lazily in response, and closed my eyes as I kept my ears alert.

I head Barry run around on all fours, and a few times him splashing in the water.

But there comes a time when one must sleep.

I was sure that I had only dozed off for a few minutes, and so I jumped out of the tree. I walked to where Barry was resting.

I licked his ears from what I could see of them. His head turned as he looked at me  and licked my nose. I sneezed and rested my head on his back. I could feel his pulse underneath all the fur, and it seemed to be slowing down.

I sighed, we were quite a sight. I moved my head and stuck it underneath Barry's. He let out a rumble in the back of his throat, vibrating my whole body softly.

After sitting like this for a while, I got up and lightly tugged at Barry's mane. He stood up and tried to look at me. I let go of his hair and looked at him before running towards the exit.

I heard his feet pound after me and I knew that he was going to catch me soon, so I increased my speed. Once I reached the exit I faked left and went right. I threw Barry off, and I ran towards my home.

When I reached the doorway of the carved door, I ran to the bushes and hid.

Barry came running around a corner, and slowly approached the doorway, and then he went the opposite direction I had. I waited with a small smirk on my face for him to give up and call for me.

I felt something pounce on me, and I let out a shriek that came out as a roar as I collapsed to the ground.

"Got you." Barry smiled.

"Don't scare me like that!" I shouted.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay?" Barry switched to worry as he lifted himself off of me.

"Yep!" I said over my shoulder as I darted past him.

"Hey!" He roared as I turned behind the tree and out of sight. I shifted into a hawk and flew through the air and through my window. I perched on the frame of my bed, and ruffled up my feathers before Barry barged through the doorway to see me.

"Get off your bed, your talons are going to scratch it." He demanded.

I narrowed my eyes before gliding down to the floor. I walked up to his feet, and lifted my head to stare up at him.

"What?"

I screeched up at him before shifting into a dog and running downstairs. I had heard a knock at the door, and once I reached it I shifted to open it.

"Hi, Chloe!" It was Sophie.

"What do you want?"

"I just wanted to see some of your pets. Do you mind?"

"Yes. Goodbye." I slammed the door shut and sat on the couch as Barry came downstairs. What was wrong with that person? And where was her special clique?

"Chloe are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I just have felt a little on edge today."

Barry sat beside me and pulled me into his side with a small hug and smiled down at me. His face seemed to be glowing with happiness before Lizzie butted in.

"Chloe, Jessie spots one."

It was time.