Kendra follows Calmar to the door she was being pulled toward. As he enters the darkened room, he mutters some sounds, and the room lights up as the candelabras along the walls come alight. Looking suspiciously to the older man who gestures her forward, she steps through the entryway and gaspsnip at what fills the room. Rows of racks with many kinds of costumes are arrayed before her. Some have feathers in vibrant blues and greens, others have hard shells and carapaces, some have delicate wings made of lace and silk, and others have soft fur with varying sizes of tails.  

"They're enchanted," Calmar explains as Kendra steps past him toward the racks of apparel as she feels the pull intensify. "I'm not sure what Winter told you, but you are currently in a place of magic. That's how you were healed."

The impossibility of his words jars Kendra's mind from its stupor as it fully turns on. Stopping, she looks back to the old man as she finally asks the questions Winter refused to answer and more. “What's this 'magic'? Some kind of innovative technology? How were my legs really healed? Where am I? Who or what is Winter?"

With a slight chuckle, Calmar raises his hand gently in a motion to calm her. She stops and catches her breath as he responds, “I know you have many questions. I have many questions myself. None of which I can ask you unfortunately."

A quick wink tells Kendra he is toying with her, at least a bit, which causes her to blush a bit with an embarrassing frustration.  

 <You really are gullible to believe any of this!> Her other-self chastises her.

Taking the rebuke to heart, Kendra's rational side kicks into action as she realizes how dumb she is being. Winter's just somebody in one of these costumes. Calmar is just a good actor. The conclusion is obvious - she is in some studio and there are hidden cameras everywhere. People are watching her. Those same individuals are going to laugh at her when she follows their script and gets surprised. Now that she is onto them, she will just have to not fall for their trap!

Though, in the recesses of her mind, percolating like water at a low simmer, the lingering phantom pain still simmers. The terrible memories of what had just happened are waiting to boil up again.

<This can't be real,> she thinks to herself, even as her hand reaches out to touch the closest costume. As her fingers are about to make contact, an unseen force gently rebuffs her. Recoiling her hand quickly out of surprise, she brings it to her chest as she feels her stopped-heart beat again as she recovers from her surprise.

<You really are going to fall for their prank!> Her evil monologue continues.

Knowing she's right, she closes her eyes and wishes all of this to just stop. Why was she even here? Why would anyone even do this to her? In the end she just wants to be left alone!  Through her turmoil, the desire to find what is summoning her grows even stronger. The desire to find the source seems to change from a wanting to a needing.

“There is only one costume for you, Kendra." Calmar explains as he watches her.

The yearning makes her body start to sway as she takes a step forward even with her eyes still closed. Not sure what she is even doing at this point, her demeaning-self fights her rational side as her introverted side just wants to curl up and hide. Another step. <You're too gullible!> Step. <Magic can't be real!> Step. <Why am I even here?> Step. <You should be home doing the only thing you're good at, studying!>

Stopping abruptly, her arm reaches out of its own accord and her hand presses against short, fine, soft, fur. A pulse of warmth fills her hand as she hears the old man gasp.

Looking back at Calmar his mouth is slightly open as if in shock. Not sure why he was the one surprised and not her, she looks back at what her hand is touching and sees a magnificent leopard costume. Its golden fur is covered in rosettes of black spots. Unsure what she is supposed to do, she reaches out with her other hand and takes the costume off the rack. As her other hand contacts the costume, the warming energy shoots through her arms and right into her heart as if an electrical circuit had just been completed.

Delight fills Kendra's body as she starts to move her hands over the costume's fine fur. There's a profound connection here, something her rational brain cannot process. Even her abhorrent side has difficulty finding words for this situation. As she brings the costume closer, an unfamiliar feeling fills her heart.

Joy.

<You really are falling for their prank!> Her inner monologue scolds her as it finally finds its voice again. The joy floods from her as she knows it is right.  <Look where you are! All of this talk about magic and enchantments; they're lying to you! They're tricking you! You're so naive!>

Shaking her head as if to clear it, she does her best to fight against herself as she brings the costume into a hug. Its radiating warmth courses through her body, filling her with a confidence she rarely feels. She focuses on the courage to calm her mind and to shun her inner monologue into silence again. Motionless, she lets herself absorb the costume's energy as she feels herself growing anxious as a strange idea comes to her.

Looking up and over to Calmar, noticing Winter's shorter form standing beside him now, she blushes as she realizes how silly she must look. Let alone how embarrassing her coming question is going to be. At the same time, she notes that neither of her onlookers question her actions as they continue to watch her in a contemplative and content way.  

<Maybe, they could just let me stay here holding this costume forever,> her introverted self says; but she knows that is not going to happen and that does not fulfill her new desire.  Feeling the urging of the costume and the confidence it is giving her grow, she asks softly, "Can I try this on?"

A brilliant smile comes to Calmar's face that brightens the room even more. “Absolutely!" He says emphatically. Winter, too, smiles in a cold, yet friendly, way as Kendra feels the heat in her cheeks subside slightly when neither of them laugh at her strange request.

"Before you put that on, though," Calmar starts to say as his expression and voice take on a more serious tone. “I must tell you some things."

Excitement starts to drain from Kendra as she holds the costume tighter.

"The costume you hold is not ordinary, Kendra. It is old. Made in a different time by mages far more powerful than I. It has a sentience which will join you, be with you, if you accept its conditions."

"Conditions?" Kendra asks, her voice barely above a whisper as her eyes grow wide with surprise. Fear of rejection comes to her as she looks down at the costume.

"Yes," Calmar's says firmly. "Each costume's conditions are different. If you accept them, you will be changed Kendra; in body, mind, and purpose. You will take on a great responsibility. You will be a warrior in a fight that you cannot understand."

Thoughts race through Kendra as she tries to think of how she will change and what she may be fighting but Calmar's vagaries leave too many possibilities open. She does not have enough information to make any type of hypothesis. Self-preservation seems to come to the fore through the confusion as she asks, "Will I get hurt? Will I be killed?"  

Calmar hesitates for a moment before shaking his head solemnly from side to side. "There will be dangers," he admits. "Therefore, I cannot guarantee your safety. Know that you will not be alone in the fight. I will help you. My associates, other mages, will help you. And, most importantly," Calmar says as he points to the costume in Kendra's hands, "she will help you."

Winter steps up beside him, her stoic demeanor melting into a softer expression, her shorter stature not betraying her strength. "If you can accept the contract Kendra, I will be with you."

<Why are you listening to these silly->

Kendra stomps her foot firmly on the ground, demanding her opposite into silence. Her rational mind tries to break into the silence by screaming, <This is a show!>

<No...> she tells herself as she shakes her head. She knows that's not correct either. No show could make her feel this way. Another pulse of warmth flows into her as she holds the costume out so she can see it in its entirety. The fabric is so soft and inviting; yet Calmar's words seem to lace it with an air of foreboding. Whispering to herself, she says, “No show could make a costume that does all of this to me; this incredible bond and power. Even this strange desire to wear it..."

As questions swirl within her mind, she looks over to her onlookers and asks, "What will happen to me if I am rejected?"

“I will place you back at the scene near the theater." Calmar answers without hesitation. “You will remain unharmed and safe. You will be asleep after having your memories of this place removed."

An involuntary panic rises in her heart as the fear of rejection comes back to her. The idea of forgetting about this costume, something so precious to her, something she never knew she needed, is inconceivable to her now. She knows she must make whatever contract is needed so she can be with this costume. "Let me put this on."

"Very well young miss, we'll leave you here to put it on," Calmar says as he ushers Winter to follow him out of the room. "I do recommend taking all your clothes off before putting the costume on though."

Heat returns to Kendra's face as she thinks of disrobing in this strange room as she is left alone holding the costume.

Reluctantly, she hangs the leopard costume back up on the rack again as she takes her clothes off. Noticing a small side table, she neatly folds her discarded garments and stacks them on the wooden surface. She looks down at herself, her near-vision a little blurry without her missing glasses; they must have fallen off somewhere in the chaos at the theater. She notes there is nothing special about her body. She is not athletic, not active, a bit over-weight though not by much as she never pigs out on sweets. Knowing self-doubt will come to mind soon, she looks back to the soon-to-be-worn costume and smiles.

Anticipation radiates into her as she picks it up and looks for the opening in the costume and finds the back is open. Lowering it, she sticks her right leg in and finds the appropriate hole for her foot to go down. The costume is surprisingly tight but gives just enough for her foot to force its way down into the attached paw. As she puts her other foot through and pulls the costume up to her hips she struggles as she squeezes the costume over her hips. She sighs from the effort saying softly, “If I need to do this every time I fight, the battle will be over before I'm ready!"

A distant sound, like a mewling laugh comes to her senses. She looks around the room to verify that she's alone, she is; but she's still a bit shaken by the ethereal nature of the sound. Collecting herself, she reaches down and starts to pull the costume up her torso. Breathing out helps her pull the costume up her body. Her hands are as difficult to get into the costume as her feet were, but she is finally able to manage the task as she watches her hands fill the previously lifeless paws. Bending her fingers makes a smile cross her face as she watches the padded digits bend with her fingers.

Knowing she's almost done, Kendra does her best to grab the hood of the costume as she ducks her head through the opening in the back and forces her head through the neck until her face emerges from the front of the tight hood. The majority of her shoulder-length hair is tightly compressed to her scalp except for many strands that snuck through and are now hanging out obscuring her vision. Not sure what she can do with her pawed hands, she reaches up and tries to pull the strands back under the hood; but before she can, the costume seems to shift of its own accord!

The cool air that was hitting her back moments ago stops as she feels the costume constrict around her. All the air that was in her lungs is forcefully pushed out as if someone is putting a tight corset on her and pulling the laces tightly. Trying her best not to panic, she waits as her entire body seems to be pulled into itself until the costume seems to loosen.

Breathing in quickly, air rushes into her lungs as the costume continues to be less restricting until it seems to fit comfortably. After a few more breaths, a warmth flows through her body as the costume seems to ripple once more as the fit becomes perfect for her, like a second skin.

Looking down at her furry body makes her eyes nearly pop out of her head. Where she was expecting to see her flabby form, she now sees a well-sculpted figure concealed beneath a leopard costume's fur! The furry fabric conforms to every curve of her athletic body. Content comfort comes to her mind as she puts a pawed-hand to her new form and starts to pet herself.

A giddiness, like nothing she has ever experienced before, fills her very being. She can't stop herself as she moves, leaps, and spins as a strange kinetic energy drives her to move.

<You're acting like a child!> Her negative-self says as it awakens once more. Of course it would rob her of this newfound happiness; but before it or she can say anything more, a knock comes from the door.

"Are you decent miss?" Comes Calmar's voice as the door opens slightly giving off a faint squeak.

"I am..." Kendra responds as she looks down at herself again and blushes. She's not sure if being in a skintight costume actually is considered 'decent'. She certainly would not have thought so moments ago!

Opening the door fully, Calmar enters and walks toward her. She can see that he's carrying an orange band with gems of assorted colors ranging from yellow, to orange, and to red woven into it. It's hard for her to take her eyes off of it as he holds it up for her to take.

"This is the last part to your ensemble." Calmar explains with solemn purpose. "You have taken the form but you have not made your oath or completed your bond. When you are ready, put this on your neck."

Taking the ornate band gingerly in her paws, Kendra feels a new weight of responsibility drop on her shoulders. There's an energy to the band, similar but not fully the same as the costume's.

Without any more words, Calmar turns and walks out of the room as he closes the door.

Fingering the collar, tracing the gemstones with her thicker thumb, she raises it up to her neck. The lingering dread of rejection flairs in her mind as the collar seems to latch itself closed around her neck. A vibration comes from her throat as a sound starts to emanate from there – she's purring!

Abruptly, her vision goes dark as she feels herself alone in a void. A sensation of being stalked comes to her as she tries her best to look around but there's no light to assist her in orientation.

An odd laughter fills the emptiness as if teasing her. "Nyaa hahaha!"

Spinning to where she thought the noise had come from, she sees herself, in costume. A sly grin crosses her copy's lips as she laughs joyfully again. The illusion, illuminating itself alone, is unreal and disorienting. Kendra tries to step back but doesn't move. She raises her hands to distance herself from the specter, but no hands come up! She looks down quickly to see what's going on and tries to gasp but no sounds come! There's nothing there! Panic fills her as she realizes she doesn't have a body!

"Nyo nyeed to worry," her illusion says in a playfully soft tone. "We're here to discuss a contract. Nyo body other than yours is required for that."

Swallowing, or at least wanting to, Kendra tries to calm herself. Realizing she can't speak, she thinks, <What do you require of me?>

The illusion before her seems to dissolve into a dusty mist as the particles disperse and move on an unfelt wind. A rough stirring envelops Kendra's mind, as if sand is moving through every fold of her brain. As the sensation stops, she hears, "We must find what is right, together."

<Then where do we start?> Kendra nearly pleads, wanting to get the conversation moving so she can have a body again.

A spinning sensation comes to Kendra as the darkness seems to intensify. Her mind searches for anything that will ground her like hair that should be flailing around in the wind or the feeling of centripetal forces against her cheeks or even a feeling of dizziness; but none come.  

"You're nyo fun! Much too serious!" Her copy says from every direction.

<I must know what I am binding myself to!> Kendra screams in her mind. She tries to close her eyes but realizes she either can't or can't tell the difference in this absolute darkness.

The sensation stops abruptly as faintly glowing particles reappear and coalesce, forming her leopard form again. The leopard girl's eyes look at her with a friendly smile. "The introduction first." The image bows as it looks up and winks. "I am Zoe, the Amber Leopard."

<I would bow if I had my body,> Kendra thinks dryly as she tries to collect her thoughts. <In lieu of that, I will simply say I am Kendra Marency.>

"A fine nyame, Kendra." The image says as it dissolves into dust and then into darkness.

A falling sensation comes to Kendra's senses. She wants to scream in surprise but can't as her inner monologue starts to lecture, <Look at what you've done! You were saved to just fall to your death! And why!? Did you think this costume wanted you? No one, nothing, wants to comfort you or be with you or even care about you!>

“What will you do with this nyew power?" Zoe's playful voice says from every direction. "Will you hunt? Will you seek revenge? Will you harm? Will you destroy? "

Trying her best to ignore her hateful-self and the building panic from the endless fall, she focuses herself on Zoe's voice. Wanting this all to stop, she yells, <I don't want any of that! I don't even want power!>

The falling abruptly stops as a soft warm light fills the space. From the corner of her vision, she can see the image of herself, Zoe, walking silently toward her. Her image is incredible. Her athletic form would put even the greatest athlete to shame. Her hips are wide as her figure narrows at her waist, before growing again to her slender shoulders where her modest breasts rise with strength. The fur is short but as she moves, the rosettes ripple, making contours hard to find in her form. Her movements are entrancing as her hips sway with each step while her tail swings back and forth keeping her balance perfect.

Looking up at the leopard girl's face, Kendra's surprised. Where previously she saw her face, there's now a short fuzzy muzzle topped with a cute black nose. Other features of Zoe's face still resemble hers, though, like her cheek bones, chin, and overall proportions. Zoe's eyes have also taken on a more yellowish hue and her pupils are slit like a cat's.

Stopping in front of Kendra's presence, Zoe bends down to eye level as she asks softly, "What is it that you want then?"

<I...> Kendra starts as she wonders the same thing. Is she simply seeking Zoe's acceptance? Originally that's not what it felt like but maybe that's what she wanted to think. She goes back to what Zoe had said earlier, that they'd find the right contract together. If that is the case, then where do they even start?

“I knyow what is going through your mind," Zoe chuckles softly to Kendra as she smiles just enough to show a fang. I will nyot tell you what I seek directly. I knyow you are conflicted. I knyow you've been hurt. I knyow your fears. I knyow your turmoil. I also knyow you can do great things with my power. I am also nyot one to follow rules..."

Winking, Zoe stands back up and seems to think for a moment before continuing. “I will nyot reject you, Kendra. If you promise me that you will dedicate yourself to finding the right contract for us, I can accept that as our contract."

<It can't be that easy!> Kendra thinks to herself as she feels the warm spot in her mind move to where her brain is currently active.

Zoe snickers as she starts to walk away from Kendra's position. “You reject my proposal?"

Letting herself calm down for a moment, Kendra sets her rational mind free as she does her best to fight off other thoughts and her other self. This is a problem that has a solution, she just has to find it.

A content purring comes from Zoe as she starts to circle Kendra's disembodied form.

Thoughts swirl in Kendra's mind. What makes a good contract? What is right? Who even defines what right is? Is it what Zoe thinks is right? Or what the world thinks is right?

"What about you?" Zoe queries from beside Kendra. "Is everyone more moral than you?"

<No.> Kendra responds to the warm dot in her mind as she realizes that that must be Zoe. <But I can't say that I'm perfect either! Calmar said that I will need to protect others. Can I really do that? Winter even called me a hero. She said I should never be forgotten for just trying to help an old man es->

Terrifying images flash through her mind cutting off her train of thought. Intense fire, blinding smoke, and deafening fire alarms fill her senses. The old man, on the floor.

“Look what you did," Zoe says softly with admiration playing into her voice from behind as she continues her orbit around Kendra. “A simple woman caught in a disaster. You should have run for the exit to save yourself. Instead, without hesitation, you went to help a stranger."

Warmth and encouragement fill Kendra as she remembers doing all she could to save the old man.

“You have so much potential," Zoe's says. “Yet you hold yourself back. You are amazing Kendra!"

Raw emotions flow through Kendra as a strange feeling envelops her as she grabs onto the joy of being complemented so completely; but, through all of this, she can still feel her demeaning thoughts waiting in the back of her mind.

“Do not fear yourself!" Zoe demands from Kendra's right side. “Reject those thoughts!"

Knowing Zoe's right, Kendra does her best to concentrate on Zoe's praise as she pushes the coming tarnishing admonishments to the darkest recesses of her mind as she focuses on her ultimate goal, the contract.

“Speak for yourself Kendra!" Zoe demands as she stops in front of her.

Looking at the figure before her, Kendra realizes how daunting Zoe can be when she wants to be.

“What do you want?" Zoe demands.

<What I want?> Kendra repeats awkwardly. Why would her opinions matter to Zoe? Wouldn't this thing want to have grander aspirations? Taking a moment to collect herself, she decides to just let her thoughts run freely. <I don't want power to hurt anyone. Can I help others that are in danger? I hope so; but I can't guarantee that. I'll be honest Zoe, I have no idea what this is all about. Saving the world from some unknown danger? That's beyond me! But, if you're willing, Zoe, can you teach me? Can you help me understand what this is all about? Can you->

Sadness fills Kendra as she stops her train of thought. She realizes what she really wants from Zoe. She realizes that she can't do this anymore, be herself. Playing the constant game of charades with everyone while she's destroying herself from the inside. She knows tears would be running down her cheek at this point if she had her physical form.

Light begins to fill the space as Zoe kneels down again, in front of Kendra, as she reaches up and wipes tears from her eyes. Smiling softly, Zoe says, “I know your pain."

<Can you help me? Fix me? Make me a better person?>

“I will help you, Kendra." Zoe says softly as a smile crosses her wet cheeks. “I will help you deal with your troubles. I will be with you forever, Kendra. I will show you how to become the hero the world needs."

<Zoe,> Kendra starts as she can't help but find Zoe a truly loving partner; someone that she can put her full trust in. <I propose this contract. I will not use your power to harm the innocent, to steal, for revenge, or anything else that is morally wrong. I want to think that I will protect others and that I can become some type of hero. What I want->

Taking one last moment to verify that she's ready for this commitment -she is- as the area continues to become brighter. <- is to discover myself. Who I truly am. Who I can be. Who I am meant to be!>

A caring smile crosses Zoe's lips. "I approve your contract."

Relief smothers Kendra's every emotion and thought as the white light fills the void completely, bathing Kendra in its ethereal glow as her vision is lost in the brightness. As the radiance surrounds her, she feels more at peace than she has ever felt before as the power of Zoe's essence slowly weaving itself into her very being. She feels a warm sensation coursing through her as Zoe's voice says within her mind, <I hope my fun wasn't too frightening.>

<The falling was a little too much for me.> Kendra responds in thought, imagining she's softly elbowing Zoe.

<Nyoted,> Zoe responds with a bit of remorse as she adds, <Sorry.>

<Apology accepted,> Kendra thinks with appreciation as she adds with a friendly tone, <I look forward to knowing you better, Zoe, the Amber Leopard.>

As the all-enveloping light fades, Kendra's vision changes to the room where she had put Zoe on. She looks down and sees her furry body as all her senses come back to her. The smell of the old, stained wood, the feel of soft fabric of the costume against her skin, the sound of her breathing, the taste of her saliva as she swallows in her dry throat, and the sight of the dimly lit room that she is still alone in with all the other costumes. She raises her paws up to her chest as she feels her heart pounding with excitement.

For the first time in so long, Kendra did something for herself, by herself, and she can hardly contain her jubilation as she feels Zoe's presence shifting in her mind like a warm summer breeze.

<Ready for the final step?> Zoe asks excitedly.

<Definitely!> Kendra responds as a profound tickling sensation covers her entire body as she starts to laugh. Closing her eyes, she feels something surreal about her skin. Like it's liquifying and merging with the costume! New sensory inputs overwhelm her as she feels her fur for the first time! She feels herself stumble as her mind blanks out.