• Raquel ran up to her room in the castle, fuming. "it isn't fair! I do all the things he tells me to do and it isn't fair! How was I supposed to know that I was to starve her? He told me to feed her! I thought he meant something like my meals, but noo! He wanted to give her week old bread and cheese rinds! This isn't fair!" She yanked her door open walked in, then bolted it shut. A hoarse voice came from a treasure chest. "R-r-raquellll?" it moaned. "Is that youuu?" Raquel smiled, something she rarely did. "Yes, Topaz. You may come out now." All of the sudden, the chest creaked open and a furry head popped out. "Ah, Raquel! how are you today, my dear?" "Oh, Topaz," Raquel wailed. "I do wish you would stop crying, my dear." The cat gently laid her paw on Raquel's hand.
    "Is it Aaron again, Raq-"
    "Topaz, I love you dearly, but if you call me 'Raquel' one more time, I will pull your tail!"
    "You wouldn't!" said Topaz, backing away.
    "I wouldn't, you are right. But would you please call me Roc for once?" Topaz looked at the girl.
    "You wish to be called a inanamite object? A grouping of minerals? Or do you mean the bird, the fearsome Roc?" Raquel looked at the little kitten. "You know I mean the bird!"
    "Ah, birds, I always wished to eat that little raven of Aaron's. I would love that."
    Raquel smiled. "Your wish is my command, but only if you help me free... her."
    "Ah, my dear! That is a, mm, difficult task."
    "But, Topaz-"
    "Ahem."
    Raquel whirled around. Topaz ran into his chest unseen. There was Aaron looking smug and enraged at the same time. He snapped his fingers. Two guards came with spears, chains, and a cloth to gag someone, namely Raquel.
    "I have had enough of your antics, Raquel," Aaron said.
    "Take her away!"
    At that moment, the chest that contained Topaz crashed apart with such force the room shook.
    "The girl," a tiger said with her glittering amber eyes, "Is mine."
    One of the guards stepped forward unafraid, but took one look in those amber eyes and ran, dragging Raquel behind him.
    The other guard was left in the room. Aaron stayed away from all this, knowing what would happen next. The tiger, he thought, was definetly the little kitten he had seen. Soon he would capture it and hypnotize it, if it was alive afterward. He chuckled. Topaz turned at the sound. The guard thrust his spear into Topaz's chest. The tiger collasped with a kitten-like mew and shrank back to a kitten. Aaron picked up the limp body. He laughed. He could feel its power being transfered into him-
    At that moment, Raquel knew she was all alone once more.