"Linh!" I hear a scream from behind me, and I turn around. I see Tam's face, pale with worry.

"Tam?" I whisper, reaching for my brother, "What's wrong?"

"Our parents," Tam's voice rasps, "They're here."

I gulp as my brain processes this. Then I shake my head. "No, that can't be true! Tam, they don't even kn-"

A rustle from behind cuts me off, and then a cold but familiar voice rings out. "Linh, you are a terrible daughter."

I shiver and try to run, but my legs don't work. Another voice screams, "Really? We expected better of you, Linh!"

Tears flood my eyes, as I once did with Atlantis, I have to shamefully admit. I use all my might to whirl around and-

I blinked open my eyes, my heart pounding furiously. I took a deep, shaky, breath, and then I remembered the nightmare. It's okay, Linh. It was only a nightmare, I comforted myself. But I could still hear my parents' voices echoing in my mind.

I quietly slipped out of bed, careful not to wake anybody up, and curled up next to Princess Purryfins, who was snoring in her pink little cot (which I pleaded Tam to buy) in the corner of my room. I yawned, and petted her soft but prickly fur.

As I put my head against the wall, I could hear whispering. I jerked upright. Then I remembered that Wylie was also staying at Tiergan's, and was sharing a room with Tam, while his father was doing some "important stuff." Tam and Wylie were probably talking. I had thought that Tam and Wylie wouldn't get along too well, since they were literally the opposite. Wylie - a sunny Flasher. Tam - a glowering Shade (but's he's a total softie inside). But boy, was I wrong - And I was glad. (I couldn't stand being caught in the middle of a cat fight) Them two were literally kindred spirits. I smiled to myself.

I kissed Princess Purryfins' head, and she purred, fluttering open her huge eyes. In one swift move, I had Princess Purryfins in my arms before she realized what was going on (the training we learned with Sophie was pretty handy). I crept out of my room, and I paused when I entered the hallway, realizing what insanely stupid thing I was about to do. I sighed, but stroked Princess Purryfins once more, and then tip-toed towards Tam and Wylie's room, and stopped abruptly when I reached it.

I tried to peek in, but it was too dark for me to see anything. Suddenly, I saw a flicker of light - was it fire? I squinted my eyes, worried, and then finally realized that it was just Wylie using his powers to light up a small section of the room. But why? More curious than ever, I cautiously stepped forward, trying to get a better look at what Tam and Wylie were doing, when Princess Purryfins mewed loudly.

Everything stopped moving, and it became eerily quiet. The whispers from the room were gone. I sucked in a breath. Uh-oh. I was in big trouble, I was sure.

This is my first fanfic, and um, yay! Please review~ [insert picture of Princess Purryfins doing puppy eyes]