Just gonna give y'all a warning. It's a short chapter this time around but it has a VERY big impact on some things coming up in the future.

Also, let me just say I'm happy the alerts are fixed, FINALLY. It's been a whole week and they're fixed.

Chapter 21

Kuma P.O.V.

This time when Mira wakes me up it's with a knock and a call-out, causing me to roll out of my bed and walk over to the door.

I twist the knob and pull the door open to see Mira and Lisanna standing there. As I step out, I shut the door behind me and we walk down to the bar.

After Mira walks behind the bar I lean over the counter and grab a stick of beef jerky she keeps hidden in a jar.

I turn around and walk to where Lisanna is standing, and finish off the jerky as I walk.

"So, what training are we doing exactly?"

"I thought we could have a race around the town." She replies quickly enough and my interest is peaked.

"What type of race, exactly?" I look up to see her grinning.

"I heard from Wendy that you have a speedy feline form, is that right?" I nod and she asks, "So, then why don't we see how fast you really are? My cat take-over versus your feline form?"

I grin. "Alright, where are we racing to and what does the winner get?"

Her body glows and when it fades she's back in her cat costume. "To the market on the other side of town; the spice section. Mira needs some more spices since Natsu ate the rest of her supply yesterday. As for what the winner gets… well we'll settle that when we get back."

I nod and turn to face the gates of the guild yard. Heat floods my bones and I fall to all fours as my legs and arms become long and thin, my mouth and nose stretch to a muzzle and my pelt grows out. My tail flicks behind me and my ears twist as I pick up the new sounds around us.

"Three, two, one. Go!"

She takes off and I leap forward, quickly catching up then surpassing her. When I come to a corner, instead of slowing down, I take it at full speed, my claws gripping the paving stones while my tail acts as a counterbalance, keeping me from spinning out.

It's too late when I see a vendor rolling his cart across the road up ahead and I react without thinking. My back legs bunch and I leap, my claws sinking into the fabric of the covering as I barely clear it.

The buildings blur by and I can pick up the smells of the marketplace coming from a couple buildings over.

Coming around another turn, I see the market place up ahead and I pick up my pace until I'm flying over the ground. My paws stretch to the farthest point they can, my spine stretching with the action as I leap a counter and come to a stop in the middle of the spice isle.

I sit down, my sides heaving as I catch my breath, and I notice the various people and vendors watching me curiously.

When I catch the sound of footsteps, I lick a paw and draw it over my ear as Lisanna flies around the corner, narrowly missing a customer who's still watching me in awe.

She stops, panting in front of me, and rests her hands on her knees as her costume disappears. After she catches her breath, she stands up straight and scowls.

"Okay, Kuma. You win this time around, but I swear I will win next time."

I huff and roll my eyes as I shift back to my human form. "Are you kidding me, Lisanna? I've been sitting here for ten minutes."

She looks at me in surprise and I can't hold in my laughter; my sides aching by the time I get it under control.

"I'm joking, I've only been sitting here five minutes. Though that vendor in the middle of the street slowed my pace some."

She scowls and pokes me with a finger. "Alright, then how about we do it this way. Let me get the stuff Mira needs, then we'll race back. First one to the guild gets to trick Natsu."

I grin. "It's a bet."

*stretches* Alright down to business. Because of the rain storm last Friday I failed on getting to the reviews so I'd say it's about time we got back to it.

Sam, you're kind of half right. She doesn't have anywhere else to sleep and she spends all her time at the guild. BUT! Panthers and other big cats in the wild will doze in trees to stay out of harms way and if you think about it, the rafters in the guild are pretty much just large af tree branches that Kuma uses as her personal scratching posts.

Strike, *searches the horizon* Where are you at? Because I hate to sound rude but that guess is way out of the ball park. Normally you can read my mind about what's gonna happen so it's strange to see you so far off the mark. Care to take a guess about what's gonna happen next week?

Pixie Pixel! Sorry, but no balcony this time around. *grins* Oh, y'all are gonna hate me when you see what's coming. Explosions, people getting killed, things have yet to be seen and even better, new people to meet! But that's all I'm gonna say about that.

So, did y'all enjoy the chapter? If you did leave me a review letting me know what you think. If you're just joining us why don't you fave and follow not just the story but myself as well so you'll know when I upload one shots and chapters for my other stories.

Don't be afraid, I don't bite. *winks*

With that said I'll see you next time.

Grizzly out for the night.