Disclaimer: I don't own Crash Bandicoot.

"Good kitty... Good boy... Good Pura..."

Coco smiled as she ran her fingers tenderly through the soft fur of the small animal by her side. She was highly enjoying his company - as well as the affection he was showing her.

Living up to his name, the tiger cub purred at the petting he was receiving from the young bandicoot. He rested cosily beside his owner, rubbing his head loving against her.

Coco's eyes sparkled as she ran her fingers along Pura's back, all the way up to the back of his head. She brought them to a stop behind his ears, where she gently began to scratch.

"You like that, buddy?" she asked softly. "You enjoying that?"

The feline answered the bandicoot's question by purring louder. He was highly enjoying the tenderness she was giving him. He remained by her side as he closed his eyes in the relaxed state she was putting him in.

The smile on Coco's face softened. Pura's behaviour right now was very typical of him. The cub behaved far more like a domesticated house cat than a fierce tiger. He loved to play, be petted and lick anyone who was nice to him. Anyone who would dare antagonise him, however, would learn just how ferocious he was capable of turning.

No harm would come to Coco, however, as long as she was around him. If anything, the tiger cub was extremely protective towards the young bandicoot. Anyone who would try to harm her would have to go through him. An enemy of his owner of was an enemy of him.

Knowing how devoted to her the orange, striped cat was, unwilling to let anything or anyone hurt her, Coco smiled down at her. She was pleased she had decided to adopt him when she'd first met him during her and Crash's journey through time. She had helped him to gather crystals and gems on the Great Wall of China - and had even assisted her in a space battled against N. Gin. She and her friends could not have defeated Dr Cortex and Uka Uka without the help of her furry friend.

"You're my best pal, Pura," she said sincerely to her pet. "I love you..."

With his purrs now as loud as they could be, Pura jumped up and put his front two paws onto Coco. He licked the young bandicoot's face, nuzzling his own adoringly against her.

Coco giggled and hugged Pura closely. She deeply meant every word of what she had told her pet. She perfectly understood by his actions towards her that he was telling her that he loved her too.

"Whoa!"

The single sound that filled the air picked up Coco's attention. Knowing instantly who it belonged to, she lifted her gaze to see who had made it - and a frown filled her furry face at the sight of him.

"Oh, Crash!"

Sure enough, Crash was running past. He didn't so much as glance towards his little sister, as he was too focused on escaping what he was sprinting from. The goofy bandicoot peered with horror behind him, not wanting to feel the wrath of what was chasing him.

Coco turned to see that going after her big brother - was none other than Polar. The little bear cub had an irked expression on his fuzzy face as he darted after her mad marsupial.

With a roll of her eyes, Coco sighed and stroked Pura again. She knew all too well that while the small tiger always allowed her ride on his back to go somewhere, the little bear was not as willing to do the same for her big brother. Despite adopting him as his own pet, Crash had got on the wrong side of Polar one too many times. The older, less mature bandicoot always managed to rub the infant white animal up the wrong way, whether he was using him as a mode of transport to find crystals and gems in the arctic climates - or just jumping on top of him to gain extra lives in the warp room.

"Crash, Crash, Crash..." Coco said her brother's name three times in a soft yet irked tone as she gently scratched behind Pura's ears again. "When will you learn, big brother, that you have to be kind to your pet?"

The end.