Panthera and the Ghostly Sister ✓

Chapter Seventeen

Panthera quickly lands in front of the house and Leon slides off her. She shifts and Nicky runs over. “Do you know these people?” she asks. Panthera nods and Connor runs over to her and pulls her into a hug. “Why did you leave?” he asks, pulling back. “So you could have a normal life and not have to worry about me.” Panthera says quietly. “Why can't you be my normal?” he asks. “Because I'm not normal. I'm a shapeshifter. I can't be normal like everyone else.” she says. Connor sighs and hugs her again. “And I'm fine with that.” Panthera pulls back and backs up. “No, no, no, no.” she says. She turns and runs off. She shifts mid run and runs faster, her panther paws digging into the earth. She runs and doesn't stop. She keeps running even when her legs are on fire and her lungs are burning. She runs even when the sunsets and the owls come out. She runs until she physically can’t. She falls to the ground and curls up in a ball. She would deal with everything tomorrow, she tells herself as she falls asleep. She wakes up the next morning feeling tired still. She shifts quickly and flies home. She lands and shifts when Leon and Connor run out. They both run up and hug her when she hears crying. She pushes past both of them and into the house. She runs up to Nicky and Nicky hands her Katy. Katy stops crying immediately and she smiles. Connor and Leon run in and they watch her as she smiles down at Katy. They start talking and they talk for a while when Katy starts crying. Panthera gets up and goes to make a bottle for Katy. She feeds Katy as she comes back and sits down. Katy falls asleep and Panthera yawns. “I guess that means it's time for bed.” Leon says. Panthera laughs and walks to her room. She puts Katy in her crib and goes back out. “Connor!” she yells. Connor runs into the room and she points to the bed. “What? I'm not taking your bed!” he says. Panthera sighs and goes over and drags him. He gives up and lays down when she walks off. “Goodnight.” she says. She jumps out the window and shifts. She lands on her soft paws and jumps into a tree next to her window. Connor looks out the window and sees her before smiling and going back to bed.