"I know, I know... You don't have to worry a thing." 

A whimper was all a black cat got in response to his soothing words as he carried a bear with claws and an owl's head, grunting all the while, out of the woods. The sounds of crickets filled the air, giving it a sense of fear, yet he still persevered while carrying his pet. 

"Come on, Shrike, you're better than this," Yellow eyes scanned the horizon, worry clear in them. How couldn't he worry? His pet was sick, for crying out loud! 

A growl that sounded like a bear's and owl's mashed together replied to his words. 

"Yes, I know you're sick! Why do you think I told you not to worry?" he groaned to the hybrid in annoyance. 

More growls shot back Shrike's reply. 

"Well, I told you I would get you out of here, so please! Rest up!" 

After a brief silence, he felt the hybrid's determination fade away. Then, Shrike's claws slowly wrapped themselves around the cat's neck, slumping on him before his mouth began inhaling and exhaling. 

The cat's mouth bent to form a smile. His pet loved him just as much as he loved Shrike, "Sleep tight, Shrike- WOAHHH!HHH!!" 

He had been so focused on Shrike he had not noticed the branch underneath him, which caused him to trip. 

Wrong time, too, since he found himself staring headfirst at a deep hole, about to be swallowed by it as well....

So he did the rational thing one would do when they're not in their right mind. 

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! HELPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!" 

He was slowly falling. He was sure of it....

He was going to die! He was going to die!

He could feel the terror coiling around him like a snake, slowly choking the life out of him. 

He didn't even get to achieve his dream-

A hand grabbing his own snapped him out of it, and made him turn to see a tanuki as she barely managed to pull him away from the gaping hole.

His back hit the ground, waking Shrike up and making the hybrid yelp and scurry away from him to avoid being his cushion. 

Thus, the poor cat ended up landing on the hard hard ground. 

"YEOUCH!" he groaned in pain. That hurt! A lot! "SHRIKEEEEEEEE!" 

The hybrid only growled in pleasure, causing the cat to moan in protest. 

The unknown tanuki laughed, "Woah, you okay?" 

That brought his full attention to the lady.

And only then did he realise how stunning this lady was in his eyes. 

Her turquoise eyes shone bright under the moonlight, and her red fur was simply dazzling.

Everything about her was dazzling! 

"Y-Yeah," he blushed scarlet. Gosh, this was so embarrassing!

The tanuki grinned, "Good to know! I'm Tanya Keys, bounty hunter. You?" 

"I'm Sly, a hero-in-training," he smiled back, trying to get rid of the red that coloured his cheeks. 

"Sly, huh? You as sly as your name?" 

"Not really. But I am fast!" 

"Awesome!" she laughed, making his ears perk up due to how melodious they sounded. "Anyway, you seem like a pretty cool guy! Can we exchange phone numbers?" 

His face flared up, "O-Of course!" 

He clumsily got his phone out, and handed it to Tanya shakily. Once she inserted her phone number into his phone and inserted his in hers, she handed it back, "Here!" 

When Sly moved to take it, his hands brushed against her soft fur. So soft.....

"T-Thank you!" he smiled at her. 

"No problem-o," she grinned back. "Anyway, gotta scram now! It was nice meeting you, Sly!" 

"L-Likewise!" 

Tanya then spun around and slipped into the shadows, leaving Sly there with a gift. 

The gift of love. 

Requester: OcarinaDude13

Prompt: Sly X Tanya Keys 

Notes: Part one is meeting, part two is start their date. Sly belongs to the requester.