Amber eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intelligence, Bella regarded Susan with a sense of curiosity that belied her feline nature. She padded forward on silent paws, the dappled sunlight filtering through the thick canopy painting her sleek fur with shifting patterns of light and shadow. A gentle purr vibrated in her throat as she circled Susan, who stood bewildered by the encounter, her heart still racing from the danger now past.

"Come," Bella's voice was not heard but felt, reverberating softly within Susan's mind. It was an invitation wrapped in warmth, an echo of ancient magic that resonated with the rhythm of the forest. "Follow me."