Sly Cooper: Family of Thieves

Chapter One: A Leap of Trust

The looming threat of Le Paradox's blimp crashing was overshadowed by the urgency of our escape. Sly, Tenesee Kid Cooper, and I had just given the skunk a thorough beating, with the help of Tenesee, but celebration was a luxury we couldn't afford. Sly, always quick on his feet, was poised to make a daring jump to safety. However, panic set in when he realized I wasn't at his side.

Frantically scanning the chaotic scene, Sly's eyes met mine as I struggled to pull myself up, dangling from his prized cane.

"C'mon, I'll help you!" he insisted, starting to pull me up.

"Sly, stop! You have to save yourself!"

Tears welled up in his eyes, reflecting the intensity of the moment. "What're you, nuts?! I'm not leaving without you!"

A dry sigh escaped my throat, my decision already made. "Sly, please," I said, my voice shaky, making him look back at me tearfully, "let go..."

Finally releasing his grip on the cane, Sly made the daring leap, landing on his knees as he came into contact with the ground. But let's rewind a bit and go back to the beginning.

I go by the name Sangue, no middle or last name to add. Nighttime is the only time I find imperative for my activities. I blend seamlessly with the shadows, making my escape plans, especially parkouring in the dark, significantly smoother. I had run away from a prestigious convent in Paris, finding it too confining for someone like me. Freedom tasted sweet as I rested against a wall after my escape. That rest, however, was abruptly interrupted by a sudden WHOOSH.

A shadowy figure raced against the wind, prompting my curiosity. Following the mysterious figure, I quickly caught up, causing them to stop. It was a raccoon, dressed in dark blue, wearing a mask, sporting a red fanny pack, and wielding a cane shaped like a question mark. To appear less menacing, he knelt down.

"And who might you be?" he asked.

"I'm Sangue, and you are...?"

"The name's Sly, Sly Cooper," he introduced himself. "What're you doing out here on the streets?"

Before I could answer, police sirens approached from behind. Running away from home only to be faced with the police—could it get any worse? I hid behind Sly as an attractive police fox stepped out of the vehicle. Listening to their conversation, I deduced they were either rivals or, perhaps, lovers. Sensing the inspector's hunch about my escape, I slipped away.

Eventually, I reached a vault with a file inside, marked "Cooper, Sly." The raccoon thanked me, revealing that the fox officer was looking for it, albeit a bit too late.

A stylish blue van appeared, and a turtle with glasses and a pink hippo emerged from inside.

"Great work, Sly! Now we can work on retrieving the Thievius Raccoonus!" the turtle exclaimed.

Confused, I inquired about the Thievius Raccoonus. Sly smiled at me before turning to his friends.

"Hold on, we can't leave this poor kid here," I added. "They'll catch me if you do!"

Bentley hesitated. "I don't know. It's not safe to tag a kid along."

The pink hippo chimed in. "Aw, come on, Bentley. We can teach her how to become one of us."

And so, the plan was set in motion, albeit with some natural hesitation.

"Welcome to the team, Sangue," Sly said with a wink. "Consider yourself at home."

In one road trip, Sly explained everything—from the stolen family birthright, the Thievius Raccoonus, to the Cooper Cane, a cherished family heirloom. Eagerly, I asked, "Where are we going?"

"We're heading to Wales," Bentley explained, "the first page of the Thievius Raccoonus is in possession of Sir Raleigh the Frog."