CAtmINt

Nine Lives

"Wait, but how can we come up with challenges and all, that kind of stuff?" The Jaguar asked, looking up from where she was washing her paw.

"You think I haven't thought about this before?" The Cheetah asked, getting up and heading towards the fire escape. "Follow me."

The rest did as told.

They were soon outdoors, and if Chloe was remembering correctly, they seemed to be heading into the direction that led to Central Park.

Beside her, the Jaguar looked up and stared at the sky. "It's a beautiful day today." She commented.

Chloe couldn't deny it, it was, so she gave a nod to that.

~•~ ~•~ ~•~

Sure enough, they arrived at Central Park.

Chloe squinted in all directions. Where was everyone? It just seemed to be her and these weirdos, but then again, maybe this was some sort of alternative thing.

"First challenge: Try to climb the highest you can in this tree."

And Chloe had to duck to not be shoved harshly, everyone at once starting running to the tree and climbing is as if they were more used to it than walking.

Desperate to not fall behind, Chloe got into a running start, jumped as high as she could, and dug her claws into the bark.

Perfect.

Carefully, she put one paw in front and dug it against the bark.

All good.

She continued that slow and careful rhythm for a while.

"Aaaaand we got Chloe in last. Bummer."

What? She looked up. It's true. Everyone except her has made it to the highest parts of the tree.

Even the Cheetah, who were known to not be the best climbers.

They all got down and looked at her with pity.

"Leopard won. But what's the next challenge?" The Tiger explained, then changed the subject as soon as possible.

The Cheetah nodded at that. "Follow me."

~•'~ ~•~ ~•~

"We're all gonna claw this rough baby, and whoever makes the first scratch on him, wins."

With the rest grinning, the Cheetah motioned for them to form a line, which he then got in himself. Chloe gritted her teeth with excitement and unsheathed her claws, clawing on the grass with enthusiasm.

"On three. One...Two..." Chloe noticed Mount sticking his tongue out at the Snow Leopard, who smirked at him in response, "Three!"

Chloe ran right beside them until they made it to the rock, everyone then got to their positions before starting to claw roughly at the boulder, in about the same time, Chloe reached to claw herself-

-and yowled as unendurable pain took over every inch of her body.