Illustrations from

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2 This is one of many stories about the Paws N Claws pets. Together, Vic (a lizard), Petal (a kitten), Kristy (a Cocker Spaniel), Muriel (a chinchilla) and Russell (a Dachshund) have gone on many adventures and have befriended the mongoose Syum. Syum had been taught magic by his father, but sometimes this gift attracts the wrong sorts As Kristy turned around, she held her breath. This could be the most important moment of her life! What if she made a fool of herself? Calm, even breathes. Beret straight? Check. Posture? Check. Okay, no use putting it off in longer. Just be casual. But don t over do it! What if she did? With a nervous feeling in the pit of her stomach, Kristy walked into Littlest Pet Shop. Hey Russell. Hi Kristy. Swoon!

3 Happy that everything had turned out well. Happy that the frightening encounter with Nadia s mom was over. After that initial celebration, Nadia spoke up. I guess I should be going now. But don t you have to wait for your owner to pick you up? Petal asked. Me and Mum don t- didn t- actually have owners. Gordan had hypnotized a girl to make us an appointment. And Ms. Twombly probably doesn t even remember us now. So To everyone s surprise, it was Syum who broke the awkward silence. So what? You can still stay for a while. In fact, you can stay as long as you need to. The other looked at each other. A mongoose inviting a cobra in! Who would have guessed? Then again, you can never tell with the Paws N Claws pets! Illustrations from It had been a while since Russell said hi to her, but Kristy still had that happy feeling of love that she felt when ever she saw him. At the moment, she was lying in her bed and writing in her diary I passed Russell earlier with my new beret on. I hope he noticed! He did say hi, and I think I acted pretty normal. I wonder why I feel so wonderful when I think of him, but... almost kind of scared too. Is it Kristy suddenly stopped writing. She flipped to one of her past entries. It was about Russell. She flipped again, and again Russell. Flip, Russell. Flip, Russell. Flip, Russell. Flip flip, flip, Russell, Russell and Russell! This was going to keep on going, Kristy realized, unless she did some thing about it. She would keep on dreaming about Russell, but she would never know whether he actually loved her until she asked. She was going to have to make the first move! It was the only way she would ever know. Determinedly, she climbed down the dumbwaiter. Hey Russell! I have what the huh? Russell, Piper, Vic, Petal, and Muriel were putting anything that wasn t nailed down (and some things that were) on top of a cardboard box. It had several s holes in it, and was shaking like something in it was trying to get out.

4 What s going on? Kristy asked Petal. We re trying to keep Syum from going crazy. Two cobras are visiting soon! We re going to hide before they get here, but Syum refuses to hide. It s a mongoose thing. She explained. Russell spoke to the small group. Okay, I don t think he can get out. Let s hide before- The pet shop door s bell cut him off. Hide! Piper yelled. Vic jumped into the food and dug down to the bottom. Petal crawled under a chair. Piper dove under the cushion of the chair Petal was under. Muriel jumped behind the curtains. Kristy climbed into the dumb waiter. And Russell climbed in also. Kristy s heart began to beat faster, and it wasn t because of the cobras. Mummy, are you sure that we have to stay here? A young voice said from outside. Shush Nadia. I can sense them. Their fear is overwhelming. Soon we will have what we want. An older voice said with a menacing hiss. But Mummy, just what do you want? Nadia asked. Are you questioning me, my daughter? Her mom asked. Of coarse not Mummy! Nadia said a little too quickly. Good. They ve already trapped the mongoose. That makes it all easier. Now to find the prey. The older cobra said, completely ignoring Nadia. The almost silent rasp of a pair of scales slithering seemed to fill the whole pet shop. Kristy was painfully aware that Russell was hugging her, but she didn t dare move, and probably wouldn t have even if she did dare. would we ever believe you? All this is your fault! Now Kristy isn t ever going to sing again, or go to Paris, or fulfill any of her dreams! Nadia looked like she had drowned with her Mom. Piper added her insults to Muriel s. How could you even try something so underhand? Kristy s dead, and you have the nerve to claim you can- Do it. Russell interrupted, surprising everyone. Are you sure about this? Petal asked. Well what s she going to do? Make it worse? We have no choice but to trust her. Russell answered, and nobody was prepared for the despair in his eyes. Reluctantly, Syum let Nadia pass. Nadia slithered up to Kristy. Inserting her fangs gently into the wound, she injected her venom. The wound (previously an unnatural shade of purple) slowly faded into red. Was this a good sign? Everyone held their breath. Minutes felt like hours. Then Kristy lifted a paw. You re alive! Eyes alight, Russell hugged her and kissed her on the cheek. Kristy opened her eyes and smiled. She would have kissed him back, but she was still weak. The venom hadn t taken full effect. You did it Nadia! Petal yelled joyfully. Oh, thank you thank you thank you! Muriel added, hugging her. For a while, they all were happy. Happy that Kristy was alive.

5 in a grim silence for what felt like an eternity. I think I can help. A quiet voice said behind them. Syum growled and threw himself on top of Nadia. Nadia did nothing to resist. She let Syum push her to the ground and only flinched as he clawed her. How could you? He growled. A few tears landed in Nadia s wounds, and the pets realized with a jolt that they weren t Syum s. Nadia was crying. It wasn t me, but it might as well have been. I could have stopped her at any time! Nadia answered. Slowly, Syum got off her. Where s Mum? He asked suspiciously. Nadia answered shakily She fell into a lake, at a park. The book fell in and she went after. She said something about immortality? Mum well, she never came out. Sunil nodded. Many think that if you gather all the Major spell books together, you ll gain immortality. It s a myth. They re just books with spells in them, and if one of the spell could offer an endless life, then everyone would know about it. I can retrieve the book with a simple fetch spell. But how can you help Kristy? She may be too far gone, but my venom is like an anti venom to all of my family s. It should work on Mum s. The only problem would be if it s too deep in the blood stream Nadia trailed off as she saw the other pets glaring at her. You expect us to believe that? Vic asked incredulity. But it s true! I can- Nadia s protests were cut off by Muriel. Why * This will bring them out The older one said. If you do not show yourselves, I will kill the trapped one. He will not know in where I will strike, and we all know what the result will be. The older cobra threatened. Kristy almost thought she heard Nadia muttering, She won t really do it, she s just trying to scare them But the young cobra didn t sound so sure. With a shaky breath, Kristy stepped out. No, don t! I ll do it! Russell said, but it was too late. Quickly, the older cobra slithered to her and wrapped her powerful tail tightly around her. The cobra stared into Kristy s frightened but defiant eyes and said Nadia, let the mongoose out now. He won t dare attack! Nadia, who looked rather scared (and not just at the mention of the mongoose) asked Mummy, must we really- NOW! The older cobra yelled, squeezing Kristy even harder. For one terrifying moment, Kristy couldn t breath. It was one of the worst feelings in the world. It felt like she was going to die, right then, helpless to do anything about it. Then the cobra loosened her grip somewhat. Kristy sucked as much air in as she could. She never knew it could feel so good to just breathe! Yes, Mummy. Nadia answered quietly. She slithered over to the box and swiftly tore a large hole in it with her fangs. Syum leaped out and pounced on Nadia. Pure instinct took over both of them.

6 Nadia started twisting and turning lightning fast. She repeatedly slammed Syum into the ground, but somehow the crazed mongoose found the strength to hang on. He was about to sink his teeth into Nadia when the older cobra yelled, STOP! Beast, look at what I have here! Syum looked, and for a scary minute it looked like he was beyond the border of insanity, far to deep to think rationally or even recognize Kristy. But after a pause, his eyes widened and he slowly backed away from Nadia. He growled in frustration and helplessness, but otherwise stood stock-still. Nadia did an undignified retreat to her Mom, who gave her a withering look of disgust. Her mom kept glaring and waiting for her daughter to get out from behind her. For once, this wasn t enough motivation. Nadia was frozen with fear. The older cobra hissed with disapproval and then turned to face the other pets. You, mongoose, will give me exactly what I want, or this little dog will be the one who has to pay the price, understand? Syum nodded slowly. Good. Now, about my payment, I would like the Rose Star. Syum gasped, and immediately went into an aggressive* position. I ll never give that up to you! He spat. The other pets glanced nervously at each. They never knew that Syum had this in him! And it was actually kind of scary. You re forgetting what I have here. You will give me the Rose Star, or this one dies. And no, I will take you instead. Syum obviously loathed the cobra, but he had no choice but to follow her demands. He walked over to a wall and placed his claw on an inconspicuous crack. A small section swung open like a door. If you are not out in five minutes, I will kill this dog. The older cobra threatened. Syum nodded before walking your best to honor our cunning warrior ancestors? More importantly, do you have the courage and the guts to look out for yourself? Let s find out! Kristy felt the cobra tensing up, and she knew what was coming. She looked back over at the Paws N Claws. If she was going to die now, she wanted her friends to be the last thing she saw. Maybe she could even see Russell though the window. She just wanted him to know before she died. I love you Russell. She yelled desperately. She had to let him know before she died. She couldn t tell if he heard or not, because then the fangs sunk into her. The last thing she heard was Nadia s yell as she attacked her mom. All the pets rushed out the door1 and to Kristy. Petal checked her heartbeat. She s still alive! But it s so slow. Petal whimpered. Can t you do a healing spell or some thing? Piper begged Syum. I-I-I I can t. If only we had the Sage Star! He said. Russell held Kristy s head in his lap. He had heard her yell, and he loved her too. He loved so much it hurt sometimes but now the pain was replaced with one thought repeating over and over again: If only it had been him! He leaned down to kiss her, before she died. Syum saw what he was about to do. No Russell! The venom might spread to you. he warned. Russell almost didn t care. A life without Kristy was unimaginable. The pets sat

7 ning though your veins was truly mine. Despite these doubts, I let you stay with me. I raised you to be a true cobra, and now you turn on me for some mangy dog! Sometimes I think you re worse then your worthless brother Ian was! Nadia quelled under her mother s furious rant. Mum, I didn t mean to that is, I I She muttered. Then she shook her head. No I did mean to. Mum, ever since you met that awful Gordon snake you ve been acting like, well, him! You have to stop obsessing over everything he tells you! He turned you into a killer! H-he made you kill Octavia! And I won t let you give him the book! Nadia yelled, gaining courage as she spoke. Then Nadia heard something that made her blood run cold. Her mother was laughing. It wasn t anything like the good-natured sound she had always heard when others laughed. It was a grating sound devoid of any humor. She had always dreamed of making her mom laugh, but not like this. Fool! Her mother hissed. I killed Octavia before I met Gordon! I ve always been this cruel, but you have been blind as a bat! Your brother could see though. That s why I had to get rid of him. Nadia paled horribly. But her mother went on. He wasn t a true cobra. But are you? Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goal? Would you do in. Syum soon reappeared outside the wall. He had brought a thick light-brown book. Some of its pages were yellowed with age, while others looked like they had just been printed. Many of the pages were dogeared or had various bookmarks. The cover had a faded rose drawn on it. Here it is. Syum spat, eyes burning. Release Kristy and I ll give it to you. The older cobra shook her head. No, I think I won t. You give Nadia the Rose Star, and then we ll leave. Once we reach the lamppost, we ll let you dog friend go. If any one of you follows me, or even moves, this dog will die. Nadia! Get the book! Nadia looked as pale as the rest of the pets. Yes, Mummy. She muttered in almost a daze. She slithered over to Syum. Without looking him in the eye, she collected the book. The two cobras slithered out together, and as soon as they were gone Syum said Everyone to the window! I ll do a camouflage spell. They all gathered around the window and, as soon as Syum spoke the magical chant, they were invisible to prying eyes. The cobras slithered over to the lamppost. Give me the Rose Star, Nadia. The older one hissed. Nadia hesitated. Mum? If I give you the book, will you really let the dog go? Because I think you were lying. The older one turned around and glared. It doesn t matter! Give me the Rose Star! Nadia stared at her mom, and then said, No. The word almost made Nadia s mom explode. No! I should have abandoned you when you were an egg! Is this your true colors? A traitor! A traitor to me! Many times in your miserable life I doubted if the bloorun-