Salam and good day, my fine readers! I bring to you another chapter to our adventure. I hope it is to your liking.

I don't own Sly Cooper or any of the known characters and game scenes. I will only take credit for the creation of Salira Panthera. All reviews and PM's are most welcome, but NO FLAMES or I will douse you with a firehose, LOL!

Read, Review, Enjoy!


(Salim POV)

My brothers and I returned to our humble abode after a rather marvelous night of thieving. We gathered much loot today to add to our treasure. I joined the 40 thieves after my mother was killed by an evil owl that looked to be made out of metal armor. I looked around for information on this creature and discovered that this was Clockwerk. An evil menace that has hated the Cooper Clan and vowed to wipe us all out, and unfortunately, I was next in line. I knew this because Clockwerk has been spying on me for the past 3 years and he recently attacked me, but I was way too fast for him and always got away from him. I could tell that I was starting to make him extremely mad, and possibly hate me more than possible. In fact, I just slipped away from the 40 thieves when I noticed Clockwerk swooping down towards me. I leaped away from his talons as he cawed and hooted in anger.

"SOMEDAY, I WILL GET YOU, COOPER! MARK MY WORDS, COOPER, I WILL KILL YOU!" He shouted as he flew right in front of me.

"Why don't you give up? You can never catch me, you foolish bird!" I taunted him, causing his eyes to glow an even brighter yellow, and I could see all the hatred for me in my family within those eyes.

"NEVER! I WILL FIND YOUR WEAKNESS AND I WILL USE IT AGAINST YOU! WE WILL MEET AGAIN, COOPER!" He shouted as he flew off.

I shook my head at his warning. There is no way he will find my weakness as a hateful creature like him will never understand the source of my weakness, love. The only thing that would make me allow that monster to kill me is if he threatened my soul mate's life. I haven't found her yet, but I can feel that soon I will. Every Cooper, ever born is given one soul mate in their entire lifetime. When the Cooper comes of age, he or she begins dreaming of their Cooper Mate until they meet. Then, an unbreakable bond forms the moment the Cooper and their mate locks eyes. After I joined the 40 thieves, I began having dreams of a beautiful Arabian leopard with the bluest of sapphire eyes. I knew instantly that this glorious feline was my Cooper Mate. Ever since that first dream, I have searched for her, but no success. Then I concluded that I must be patient, for she would come to me. And once she does, I shall shield her from all harm and evil while show her what true love is. I only pray that Clockwerk never finds out about her and catches her in his talons. I would never forgive myself if she was put in danger because of me. I took a deep breath and returned to our cave, wishing in my mind that I would find my mate soon.


(Salira POV)

It's been a few months since Clockwerk suddenly appeared and scared the living daylights out of me. It made me afraid to go out at night, but I wasn't going to let him ruin my life. If that bird is really back, then I will fight him and keep him away from Sly. I am terrified of him, but that's not going to stop me from protecting my family and living my life. On top of all that, I have a soul mate to find, and not even Clockwerk is going to stop me from finding the one person my heart belongs to. It's also been a few months since Sly let me find a criminal to steal from in a tiny heist and I found exactly what I was looking for.

It took me this long with a lot of research, but I discovered that a certain ex-fiancé of mine is dealing treasures in the black market. In fact, to prove my theory, I "borrowed" Sly's binoculars and spied on him. That night, I saw a bunch of his lackeys carrying stolen treasure into the museum he just opened. He claims to be a law-abiding art collector, but I know better. He's been stealing treasure from the true discoverers and that was not right with me. I think I will teach him a lesson by stealing those Arabian Desert jewels I've had my eye on. As I slipped into my thieving outfit, Sly gave me a mic and ear piece, so he can keep in touch with me. Ever since I told Sly about seeing Clockwerk, he's gotten paranoid about my safety and never let me out of his sight. It took some convincing, but I made him stick to his promise and let me go on one last heist. I smiled at him before slipping out into the night.

I made it to the museum and saw that the security was tight. Sly borrowed Bentley's computer to watch my progress and try to help me out while Carmelita was working on a case. I knew that he wouldn't be as good as Bentley, but he'd be pretty close.

"The security looks really tight, Salira." Sly said. I nodded as I looked for a way around the guards. I then noticed some poles I could climb on.

"No problem, Sly. I'll just climb my way around those guards. Just show me the way to those Arabian Jewels and I'll do the rest." I said, as I sneaked behind the guard with a flashlight and climbed up the pole. I was so thankful I was born a cat. I heard Sly laugh through my earpiece.

"What is with you and all things Arabian? You're an Arabian Leopard; you've been constantly reading '1001 Arabian Nights'; and now you are after Le Paradox's jewels!" He teased. I shook my head and kept climbing.

"Hey, that's my favorite story, fyi!" I snapped quietly so the guards didn't hear me. Sly just chuckled.

"I know; you used to beg dad to read it to you every night and then me. But you haven't read it in a long time, up until a few years ago. It's the only book I see you read!" Sly threw back at me. I sighed as I pickpocketed a guard who had a bunch of coins and a gold watch in his pocket before getting rid of him.

"I don't know why I so into all things Arabian, Sly. But when I think of Arabian things, I feel connected to something. It's weird and I can't get rid of that feeling." I said as I reached a dead end.

"We'll just have to look into it later. Ok, I reached out to Bentley and he got me the blueprints to the museum. There should be vent in the wall. If you follow it, you'll be right above your target."

"Copy that, brother. I'm going in!" I said as I kicked a hole in the vent, big enough for me to crawl through. Just as I entered the vent, I heard a familiar and heart-stopping caw of a bird; then froze in the vent.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Sly exclaimed causing me to bump my head.

"You heard that?" I said with my voice trembling as I rubbed the sore spot on my head.

"I sure did. Get out of there and get home, now!" Sly demanded. I shook my head, not only to get rid of the headache, but also to disagree with Sly.

"I can't Sly, I've got to finish this, and then I will head back." I said before taking a deep breath and moved forward through the air vent. After navigating down the vents, I finally reached an opening. Down below were my jewels. Quietly busting through the vent without it falling, I pulled the cover into the vent and jumped down, landing quietly next to the glass case. Surprisingly, I managed to avoid the lasers. Bringing out one of my claws, I carved a circle in the glass and pushed it to make a hole in the glass.

"Come to mama!" I said as I scooped the jewels into the bag and then left my calling card, a leopard paw print card, before jumping back up into the vents, just as the alarm was going off. I slipped out of sight just as Le Paradox and his guards rushed into the room. I laughed quietly along with Sly as we listened to him swearing in French and throw a tantrum. Good thing he didn't know it was me by my card or I would be in trouble. I shook my head and smiled as I made my way out of the museum and on to the streets without being noticed.

"Great job, sis. And Le Paradox's reaction was priceless!" Sly complimented as he laughed. I walked back to the condo.

"I agree, I'm on my…" I began but stopped when that terrifying feeling swept over me; causing me to freeze and turn around very slowly and instantly wishing I didn't. My heart raced with fear as I was met with the source of my nightmares, the mechanical, monstrous, vile owl, Clockwerk.

"Salira? Salira, are you alright?" Sly asked. I didn't answer him as I was frozen in terror. Clockwerk must've sensed my fear as he began to laugh evilly.

"HAHAHA! Salira Panthera, how delightful it is to find you all alone and without the young Cooper!" He said. I heard Sly gasp and then disconnected. I shook my head and glared at the bird.

"Leave him alone, I won't let you kill him!" I warned as I backed away from him. He just simply laughed again.

"Foolish feline, It's not Cooper I'm after this time. It is you!" He roared out before swooping down. I screamed before moving out of the way and ran for my life. Clockwerk began cawing and hooting as he chased after me. I knew I couldn't outrun him, but I could try to get away from him. I shouted in pain as he hit me with one of his lasers, but kept running until I heard a voice that made my blood go cold.

"SALIRA!" I looked to see my brother running towards me. Clockwerk swooped down and smacked Sly away from me with his metal wings.

"STAY OUT OF THIS COOPER! BE THANKFUL IT'S NOT YOU I'M AFTER!" He shouted before swooping down for me again, this time grabbing me but he lost his grip and I tumbled painfully onto the concrete with a shout. I quickly picked myself up and continued to run away from that monstrosity.

"SALIRA, LOOK OUT!" I heard Sly shouted to me. I turned to see Clockwerk gaining on me and I evaded his talons; resulting in them tearing up the concrete. I picked up my speed as Sly ran towards me.

"COME ON, HURRY SAL!" I could hear the sound of the metallic wings getting closer and fast as I ran as fast as I could. I saw fear in Sly's eyes as he tried to reach out to me.

"NO, NO SALIRA, NOOOOOOO!" He yelled and just before he could reach me, Clockwerk finally grabbed me by the arms and lifted me into the air as he began to fly off with me captive.

"SALIRA!" Sly shouted. I saw him grab on to the tail feathers and tried to climb up, but then Clockwerk turned his head and fired a laser, hitting him directly and causing him to fall off.

"SLYYYYYYYY!" I shouted as my brother fell to the ground. He quickly picked himself up and ran after us. But it was no use as Clockwerk flew higher and higher. Suddenly, I felt like I was being sucked down some kind of tube and my brother disappeared from sight. Losing sight of my brother, the tears, built from fear and now from heartache, began to fall down my face as Clockwerk's talons grasped my arms painfully.

Soon, I was blinded by the brightness of the sun and I couldn't see where we were. I began struggling angrily against the talons that held me.

"LET ME GO, CLOCKWERK!" I shouted. Clockwerk looked down at me with his hateful, yellow, glowing eyes and then laughed darkly.

"Suit yourself!" He said. Suddenly he released me at a terrifying height. I screamed as I fell from the sky. I landed hard and painfully on the hot sand in what appeared to be a desert. I slowly picked myself and looked around. Clockwerk was nowhere to be seen. It didn't make sense. If he didn't want to kill me, then why was he after me? I questioned this as I slowly made my way through the desert. The sun was beating on my, quickly burning, back and I felt so weak. Having no more energy, I collapsed on the burning sand. Just before I passed out, I could make out the silhouettes of several men as they surrounded me. The last thing I saw were a pair piercing brown eyes, before I slipped into darkness.


(Salim POV)

My brothers and I were surrounding the female that just collapsed onto the burning sand, most likely from the heat and exhaustion. We were all curious as to whom this young lady was, but she felt familiar to me, as if I know her. She was laying on her front with her face in the sand. The lion flipped her over and I gasped at the sight revealed to me. She was a white, Arabian Leopard with black hair. Just by looking at her caused my heart to skip a beat. She was absolutely beautiful despite all the injuries and talon marks on her body. I froze when I saw the marks, TALON MARKS?! I knew those marks very well, as they came from the very monster that killed my mother and aims to kill me now. Whoever this young lady is, Clockwerk must've brought her here. The question is why. I knelt down beside her and stroked her cheek. She began to stir and her eyes cracked open and looked at me. Those eyes, I knew them all too well. They were the eyes I have been dreaming of.

"My mate," I whispered as I picked her up after she fell unconscious again. My brothers gasped in shock, knowing that I have searched for my Cooper Mate for the longest time. Some of them, believed I would never find her as we have searched everywhere for her. To have her in my arms was something I have longed for, for so long. But then, I realized that my greatest fear has been realized, Clockwerk found my mate and brought her here from wherever she came from. I noticed how weak she was as I lifted her into my arms and turned towards my brothers.

"Let's get her to our lair, quickly!" I exclaimed as I summoned my magic carpet and flew back to the lair, praying to Allah that I could save her in time, and that she would accept me and let me love her the way she deserves.


(Sly POV)

My heart stopped beating as I watched Clockwerk disappear with Salira in his talons. I couldn't believe what just happened! Clockwerk was back and was not after me, but my sister who wasn't even a true Cooper! The crushing feeling of failure flooded my body as I fell to my knees in despair. I promised Dad that if anything happened, I would protect Salira with my life, and I failed! I didn't even notice all the police cars arriving in the area at the same time, as I lifted my head and screamed out in anger and heartache.

"SALIRA!" I then fell to my hands and knees as the tears, that burned my eyes, began fall. I didn't even notice Carmelita rush towards me.

"Sly, what happened here? Where is Salira?" Carmelita asked as she rubbed my back.

"Clockwerk" Was all I said to her. I felt her freeze at the name but then knelt down in front of me.

"What did you just say?" She asked. I shook my head and stood up shakily as Carmelita supported me.

"Clockwerk! He attacked and took Salira. I tried to stop him, but he zapped me and vanished with her!" I finished, my voice trembling at the crushing reality. My sister was in clutches of that maniacal monster and who knows what he is doing to her, all because I couldn't protect her! My eyes snapped open at the sound of laughter and saw that Carmelita's team was laughing, as if what I just said was a joke. I growled and pulled away from Carmelita.

"WHAT IS SO FUNNY?!" I snapped at the cops.

"Listen Cooper, we all know that Clockwerk has been destroyed for 5 years, and things don't just disappear into thin air. Are you sure she's not playing a trick? Salira Panthera is known to be very mischievious." One cop said. I narrowed my eyes at him and my anger grew as the cops messed around, as though Salira was just playing Hide and Seek and the cops were it. I snarled and stormed towards the team. I would've punched one of them if Carmelita and Captain Wolf didn't pull me back.

"LISTEN, YOU PIGS! MY SISTER WOULD NEVER PLAY A TRICK LIKE THIS ON ME! I SAW THAT MONSTER MYSELF AS HE PERSUED HER, AND I HAVE THE BURN MARKS FROM HIS LASER TO PROVE IT! DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY SISTER BY ACTING LIKE SHE'S PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK!" I shouted as I tried to break Carmelita's and the Captain's grasp on my arms.

"But…" the one cop began before Carmelita finally put her foot down.

"Not another word, officer! Team, we cannot rule anything out. Clockwerk may have been destroyed, but that doesn't mean he's not found a way to return. He's done it before and he'd most likely do it again. Plus, Sly is right; Salira may be a playful leopard, but she would not scare her adopted brother like this. Something is wrong, and we must get to the bottom of this. No one is to make another smart comment about Salira Panthera or they will answer to me, is that understood?" Carmelita said, going into full inspector mode.

"YES INSPECTOR!" They all shouted at the same time. Carmelita led me to her car and then ordered a crime scene to be opened and to have red alert missing person to be put up for Salira. I didn't pay attention as Carmelita returned and drove us back to her Condo.

As soon as she parked, I rushed out of the car and up to Salira's room. It was as if I was hoping that this was just a horrible nightmare and Salira made it back to her room after her heist. But reality came crashing down as I looked around the empty room. I walked over and sat down on the bed and picked up the picture she kept on her nightstand. We were playing Hide and Seek back at the orphanage and she managed to jump on my back and kissed my cheek before I fell face first into the grass. Bentley managed to get a picture of it and Murray laughed so hard he fell into the pond. I was so embarrassed that I begged Bentley to delete it, but Salira asked Bentley to print it out and let her frame it. I smiled at the memory that came with the photo. It was embarrassing but it was one of my favorite memories. As I stared at the picture, my heartache grew and tears began pouring out of my eyes once more, as I plopped down onto the pillow. Clutching the picture to my chest; as though I was clutching Salira to me, I cried myself to sleep, not even noticing Carmelita watching.


(Carmelita POV)

When Sly didn't come to bed, I went over to Salira's room and saw that he fell asleep on her bed holding a picture frame. Sadly, I noticed his fur was soaked in tears. I felt terrible for Sly, Salira was the only family he had and she's gone. I was skeptical at Sly's story, but I believed him after seeing the destroyed street and the fact that some metal was found on the street. I sighed sadly as I carefully pried the picture frame out of his grasp and covered him with the blanket. I then looked at the picture. The raccoon and the leopard in the photo looked so happy, that it was heart wrenching to see what is happening now.

Every time I chased Sly and Salira, they always had a smile on their faces. I knew that it was because they were together and doing what they did best, stealing and pissing me off! They were the only ones that knew what ticks me off and they played with it, every time I see them. Looking back at the pained look on Sly's face as he slept and then back at the photo, I made a promise.

"Sly, I promise, until there is not a breath in my body, I will help you find Salira! I never want to see you in so much pain again!" I vowed quietly as I placed the photo back on the nightstand. I then kissed Sly's cheek as he snuggled into Salira's bed. I sighed, sadly, and went to my bed. Unknowingly, a tear fell from my eye and I quickly wiped it away. Salira is my friend and I will do whatever it takes to get her back to Sly and make sure she is safe, was my last thought as I fell into a fitful sleep.


Behold, Salira has met Salim and the mating bond has been formed. But what is Clockwerk up to? Knowing how evil he is, he wouldn't just bring together a Cooper and his mate. If you want to see what happens next, then stay tuned and send in your reviews. I am about to assume more responsibility at work, so it will take some time for me to post, but I will whenever I can. Thank you all for being patient and enjoying my stories. 'Til next time!